Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperative

Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperative

• Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher in the Age of Enlightenment who challenged the dominance of faith with reason
• He believed the supreme principle of morality is the "Categorical Imperative" (CI)
• The CI is a standard of rationality, justifying all specific moral requirements
• The human person as a rational moral agent serves as the foundation for understanding the truth of the CI
• Kant believed the human person has a two-fold nature, Homo Phenomenon and Homo Noumenon:
  • Homo Noumenon: The “god-like self”
    • Refers to the essence of things, "the thing-in-itself"
    • Cannot be known directly, as it is beyond human experience
  • Homo Phenomenon: The merely human self
    • Refers to the thing as it appears to us, the empirical part of reality
    • Can be experienced by humans
• The noumenon is the idealized person we strive to become to achieve “god-like" perfection
• We can actualize our god-like self through the human self, which serves a springboard for that process
• The CI, then, is an attempt to achieve moral perfection

A Priori Principles and Moral Reasoning

• An a priori principle is independent of human experience and can be known prior to it
• An a posteriori principle is based on empirical knowledge derived from experience
• Morality, for Kant, requires necessity and universality, making it distinct from the realm of experience
• Therefore, morality must be based on an a priori principle, not a posteriori reasoning

Practical Reason, Goodwill, and Duty

• Practical reason is the source of moral law, focused on action and what we ought to do
• It helps individuals determine moral duties and universal principles, which are valid for all rational beings
• The Categorical Imperative is derived from practical reason, offering a guideline for moral behavior based on rationality
• Goodwill is the only thing without qualification, meaning doing the right thing simply because it's the right thing to do
• This good will should not be motivated by personal inclinations or desires, but by a sense of duty
• Action driven by this good will is aligned with duty, fulfilling the requirements of moral law
• It is essential to know and follow this a priori principle to be a moral person

Kant's Beliefs in Context

• Kant's philosophy challenged the traditional view of morality, emphasizing rational principles over religious dogma
• His focus on the human person as a rational agent and the pursuit of moral perfection influenced subsequent ethical thought
• His emphasis on the Categorical Imperative and practical reason has had lasting implications for ethical decision-making and has shaped various ethical frameworks