The Categorical Imperative

Kant also attempted to rescue ethics from what the empiricists had provided—utilitarianism. For Kant, it was not enough to say that certain experiences are good and others are not; he asked what rule or principle was being applied to our feelings that made them desirable or undesirable. He called the rational principle that governs (or should govern) moral behavior the categorical imperative, accord- ing to which, “I should never act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law” (Kant, 1785/1981). Kant gave as an example the maxim “lying under certain circumstances is justified.” If such a maxim were elevated to a universal moral law, the result would be widespread distrust and social disorgani- zation. On the other hand, if the maxim “always tell the truth” were made a universal moral law, social trust and harmony would be facilitated. According to Kant, if everyone made their moral decisions according to the categorical imperative, the result would be a community of free and equal mem- bers. Of course, Kant realized that he was describ- ing an ideal that could only be approximated. He also realized that he was not adding anything new to moral philosophy. His categorical imperative was similar to older moral precepts such as the golden rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”). Kant’s intent was to clarify the moral principle embedded in such moral precepts as the golden rule.