kant categorical imperative

7. What in your opinion is Kant’s greatest contribution to moral philosophy?
In my opinion, Kant’s greatest contribution to moral philosophy is his idea of ‘The Categorical Imperative’. It is the overriding and supreme concept of Kant’s moral philosophy. Essentially, it combines the other concepts –composite of law of reason- and results in one principle. This one principle must not be hypothetical in nature. For example, it cannot be “If you want too… you must…” Rather, The Categorical Imperative (Universal Law of Formula of Kingdom Ends) requires one to act by moral laws such as “Don’t do this” or “Do that”.
Moreover, the Categorical Imperative stresses that we can assess what is morally right by imagining everyone in the world acting with the same motive. Therefore, it has to be universally applicable. When people are morally right, they are using their reason to figure out what is their duty. This duty is the one principle that excludes any qualifications and is unconditional. In addition, it means that the principle would have to be suited so that everyone in the world can act upon that law without undermining it.
For example, a person who knows that it would be good to volunteer at a charity and give up a little of his time to help a good cause. However, he decides that he won’t because he does not feel bothered. The maxim here is that it is acceptable if you do not give up some of your spare time for your community or charity if you don’t feel like it. Consequently, if this was applied universally and everyone acted on this universal law, society would eventually collapse. There would be no volunteers to give up their time to ensure the wellbeing of society. "Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end" (Kant, Critique of Practical Reason).This demonstrates how one has to use their reason to recognise their duty- this duty must be universally applicable.
For me, this is Kant’s greatest contribution to moral philosophy because it ultimately integrates his other concepts such as ‘The Good Will’ or ‘Freedom of the Will’. The Categorical Imperative produces the one principle and the other concepts act as like a guideline or criteria for the principle. If one was to follow the Categorical Imperative, they are determining what the moral thing to do is by using their reason. Therefore, in a way, it fuses the moral laws Kant proposes and uses it as a universal law?
What are the two of the most serious objections that can be raised against his position? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kantian_ethics#G.W.F_Hegel 1. Kant’s moral theory does not offer sufficient and precise information on what to do to be moral.
2. If everyone was to act because it was their ‘duty’, this dismisses other motivations for being moral. Motivations such as friendship would not be considered moral because you are not acting on duty, but by the desire to maintain a friendship. Take two friends: one friend (A) does not lie to the other. Not to lie is considered moral. However, if A was only always telling the truth because