The categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant and his role in ethics

In the era of the New Age, the three main philosophical trends (pantheism, rationalism and naturalism) have tried differently to answer the question of what kind of moral being is man. Descartes believed that the environment and the individual are opposed to each other. Helvetius and his followers, like Rousseau, wrote about the harmony of man with nature. Against this background, Kant's critical view was very welcome. He sarcastically spoke about contemporary moral theories. He also tried to rethink and otherwise put the existing ethical problems. What is Kant's philosophy known to many of us ? The categorical imperative - this term is most often recalled from the university course.

First of all, the philosopher believes that a man can not and should not be guided solely by his own goals and interests. Yes, people do that, but this creates general chaos. Therefore, a person should think about his "kind", that is, about everyone, and then he will act according to the requirements of the moral law. Therefore, we simply need to go beyond our "private" horizon. The categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant is the supreme moral command of the philosopher, which answers this attitude. In fact, this requirement to the individual "look" beyond the limits of his limbs and see others. A person must act so that he and he himself and the other represent the whole human race for him. And from this point of view, he can not treat others as a means, but solely as a goal.

The concept of a categorical imperative for a philosopher is the fundamental principle of the doctrine of what virtues are. Why does it bear such a name? Because it should be performed only for its own sake. This principle in itself is a command (imperativus in Latin). He does not need proofs or justifications. It is a pure conclusion of practical reason, formulated in various works. From the Fundamentals of the Metaphysics of Morality to the Critique of Practical Reason, we see the categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant. What is he talking about? That any intelligent being is a goal in itself. This principle must be subordinated to all morality.

What does it mean? Kant divides nature and culture into two hostile worlds. In the second of them - intelligible - all the values of the mind are. It is a world of freedom, but in nature there is a necessity. If a person wants to become a moral being, he must live as if he lived in this very transcendental universe. So he will rise from the everyday to the level of perfection. The categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant, according to its author, "shines from within." Therefore, it does not require proof in the ordinary sense of the word. If you follow them, you will not find a reward in this society, but in another world it is the only principle of behavior.

Since a person should be the goal and the highest value for other people, he must for this rise and overcome his own selfish will. He should act as if his actions were a law for others in the world where he would like to live. Therefore, the categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant logically leads us to the following conclusion. A true moral person must behave according to these higher requirements, and not be guided by the principles of profit and expediency. Yes, we are surrounded by a whole ocean of meanness and conformism. But only by showing courage and perseverance, we will remain true to ourselves and not betray our own personality.