Kant's Categorical Imperative Examples

1. “The imperative thus says which action possible by me would be good, and represents the practical rule in relation to a will that does not at once do an action just because it is good, party because the subject does not always know that it is good, party because, even if he knew this, his maxims could still be opposed to the objective principles of practical reason” (4:414). Kant’s categorical imperative states that our actions should be in accord with universal good and not driven by any personal motive or desire. Such an imperative is driven by the idea that intention is the main driving force behind the morality of an action and is all that matters. The outcome has no bearing on the good of an action since the basis of the action can
only be morally judged up to the intent behind it. “Since the universality of the law according to which effects happen constitutes that which is actually called nature in the most general sense, i.e. the existence of things in so far as it is determined according to universal law, the universal imperative of duty could also be expressed as follows: so act as if the maxim of your action were to become by your will a universal law of nature” (4:421). The law in which the categorical imperative call everyone to follow is a universal law based off the individual maxims established from the actions we take. It is necessary, for Kant, that a maxim is be established for every action we make so that it can be attributed to some universal law that would apply to everyone if they were to make the same action. This decision is based in the idea that the intent behind the action is also universal since the morality and good of the action is based of the universality of the action and the true intent behind it. ii. Analysis of claim 3
1.
“And this categorical imperatives are possible, because of the idea of freedom makes me a member of an intelligible world, in which virtue of which, if I were alone, all my actions would always conform with the autonomy of the will, but as at the same time I intuit myself as a member of the world of sense, they ought to conform with it… (4:454). Kant explains how freedom is a moral necessity since our actions must come from our own free will without external forces persuading the action. All human beings have the ability through free will to make decisions that are moral in both their intent and outcome. “All human beings think of themselves as having a will that is free. From this stem all judgments about actions such that they ought to have been done even if they were not done” (4:455). An action cannot be deemed good without freedom. Freedom is a requirement for good will because our actions are deliberated through reason. “But the legitimate claim even of common human reason to freedom of the will is founded on the consciousness and the granted presupposition of the independence of reason from merely subjectively determining causes, which together one and all constitute what merely belongs to sensation, and hence under the general label of sensibility” (4:457). Kant explains that since we have free will, through of general sensibility, we are able to utilize practical reason to make decisions in accord with goodwill. This freedom is therefore self legislated towards a universal law that constituted the good will we are all meant to abide
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4. Solutions
i. Kant explains that intent matters over outcome in regards to the morality of an action. If the reason behind an action is in accord with a universal good will that can be attributed to an ultimate maxim then the action is good regardless of the outcome. ii. In order for an action to be deemed good according to the categorical imperative, for Kant, it must be able to be generalized to a universal law. This means that every action that is made is only good if you can, without doubt, say that anyone in you position would act in the same way making it a universal maxim. The action must also be rational and be utilized as an end and never as a means. iii. Kant believes that freedom is necessary for goodwill because it is impossible to act morally if forced to do so. This means that it is a human duty to act for goodwill through our free will. Kant explains that without free will, our actions would just be based off empirical actions that everyone else does rather than actions that are the result of deliberation and practical reason. Through this reason and understanding, our freedom enables us to act in accord with good will.