Categorical imperative facts for kids

The categorical imperative is a big idea from a famous philosopher named Immanuel Kant. He thought a lot about ethics, which is about what's right and wrong.

Kant said that an "imperative" is something you *must* do. For example, if you're super thirsty, you *must* drink water to stop feeling thirsty.

He also said an imperative is "categorical" when it's true all the time, in every situation, no matter what. It's like a universal rule for doing what's right.

What's the Difference: Hypothetical vs. Categorical?

Kant explained his ideas by comparing two types of imperatives:

• Hypothetical Imperative: This is about doing something to get a certain result. It's like saying, "If you want to stop being thirsty, then you must drink water." It's a choice based on what you want to happen. Usually, drinking water isn't a moral choice; it's just something you do to meet a need.

• Categorical Imperative: This is about doing something because it's the right thing to do, no matter what you want or what happens. It's a rule you follow because it's a moral duty. Kant believed that truly moral choices come from this kind of imperative. It's like following a "universal law" that applies to everyone, everywhere.

What is a Maxim?

Kant also used the idea of a "maxim." A maxim is like a personal rule or principle that guides your actions. It's a short sentence that explains what you want to do and why.

Kant thought that if we test our maxims against the categorical imperative, we can figure out if our actions are truly ethical. If a maxim works as a universal rule for everyone, then it's a good ethical maxim to live by.

How Does This Work? An Example

Let's imagine a story to understand these ideas better.

Imagine a person we'll call "Thirsty Man." He's locked in a room all night with only one bottle of water. He's very thirsty.

• A hypothetical imperative for him might be: "If I want to stop being thirsty, I must drink this water."
• His maxim based on this might be: "I will drink water whenever I am thirsty."

This seems like a normal choice, not really a moral one.

A Moral Dilemma

A few minutes later, another person is brought into the room. Let's call him "Dying Man." He hasn't had water for days and is clearly in danger of dying from dehydration.

Now, Thirsty Man has a big decision: Should he drink the water himself, or give it to Dying Man?

Thirsty Man thinks about the categorical imperative. He believes in the Golden Rule: "Treat others the way you would want them to treat you." This is a universal rule for him.

From this universal rule, Thirsty Man creates a new maxim: "I will give anything I can to anyone I meet, if that person needs what I have much more than I need it."

Thirsty Man tests his choices against this maxim. He realizes that it's his duty to give the water to Dying Man, even though he's thirsty too.

So, Thirsty Man gives the water to Dying Man. Sadly, Dying Man chokes on the last sip and dies.

Intention Over Consequence

This story shows an important part of Kant's idea. Many people might argue about what Thirsty Man should have done. Some might say he should have kept the water because it was his. Others might say giving it was wrong because Dying Man still died.

But Kant's idea of the categorical imperative says that Thirsty Man made the right choice for the right reasons. For Kant, the morality of a choice is based on why you make it (your intention), not on what happens afterward (the consequence).

Kant believed that ethical decisions should be based on logic and reason, not just on feelings or what might happen. He also said we should always treat other people as valuable individuals, not just as tools to help us get what we want. This idea of treating others with respect, based on a universal duty, is a key part of his philosophy.

See also

Robots often follow rules, much like Kant's categorical imperative suggests humans should follow universal moral laws.

In Spanish: Imperativo categórico para niños