Analysis of Kant's Categorical Imperative in Moral Philosophy

This essay delves into Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative, a pivotal concept in moral philosophy. It explores Kant's definition of the categorical imperative as a command binding rational beings universally, guiding good will. The essay examines the imperative's supportive arguments, its relationship with morality, and the concept of morality as a duty. It emphasizes the importance of acting in a way that could be universally applied, highlighting the role of moral senses and rational judgment. The essay also discusses the imperative's implications for individual respect and impartial decision-making, drawing upon Kant's assertions about the importance of duty and the inherent dignity of rational beings. The essay includes references to scholarly works that support the analysis.

Running head: PHILOSOPHY – CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE BY IMMANUEL KANT
PHILOSOPHY – CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE BY IMMANUEL KANT
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1PHILOSOPHY – CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE BY IMMANUEL KANT
Table of Contents
Categorical Imperative.........................................................................................................2
Supportive Arguments.........................................................................................................2
Categorical Imperative and Morality...................................................................................2
Morality as a Duty...............................................................................................................3
References and Bibliography...............................................................................................4

2PHILOSOPHY – CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE BY IMMANUEL KANT
Categorical Imperative
The categorical imperative as discussed by Immanuel Kant refers to the command which
is required for the universal binding of the rational creatures who have been residing on the
surface of the earth. The “categorical imperative” as implored by Immanuel Kant is known to
have been guiding the issue of the good will that is present within the given human being. The
philosopher stated that the moral duty on the part of the individual should be capable of binding
the individuals in a universal manner without any conditional factors (Soccio, 2015). The
categorical imperative as formulated by Kant refers to the fact that the concerned individual
should act in a manner that is expected from the people who have been residing in the similar
society. The philosopher had further stated that the actions that are deemed to be followed within
the given society should be implemented universally across the society.
Supportive Arguments
The categorical imperative as has been implored by Kant might be considered to be true
by a majority of the society. The behavior as implemented by an individual might be justified
with the help of the implementation of the moral senses that are possessed by an individual and
not on the basis of an external force. The philosopher had further stated that the belief on the part
of the individual on the existence of the Supreme Being should be derived from the rational
senses of the individual and not be based on the forcible confirmation of a source external to the
human being (Soccio, 2015).
Categorical Imperative and Morality
The celebrated philosopher, Immanuel Kant, is known for the referral to the power of the
individual to be a totality amongst themselves. The philosopher stated that individuals bear the

3PHILOSOPHY – CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE BY IMMANUEL KANT
capability of following the moral principles that are required for the guidance and the monitoring
of the behavior that is demonstrated by the human beings. The human beings are also deemed to
be capable of distinguishing between the acceptable and the non-acceptable behavior in terms of
the morality. The philosopher, through the imploration of the celebrated “categorical imperative”
insisted on the fact that the individuals tend to have a proper realization of the moral code of
conduct that should be maintained within the given society (Soccio, 2015). The search for
morality as implemented by Kant stated that all individuals deserve the respect that is universal
in nature and is independent of the success and attractive nature of the concerned individual.
Morality as a Duty
The famous philosopher, Immanuel Kant stated that the morality should be viewed as a
duty on the part of the individuals who have been residing within the given society. This is
derived from the fact that all the human beings are rational beings who are capable of
undertaking decisions that are impartial and are based on the consciousness as demonstrated by
the concerned individual (Soccio, 2015). The gestural language that is used by the concerned
human beings is also considered to be capable of conveying the dignity that is present within the
psyche and the morality of the concerned human being for the concerned recipient of the
conversation.

4PHILOSOPHY – CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE BY IMMANUEL KANT
References and Bibliography
Pogge, T. W. (2017). Is Kant’s Rechtslehre a ‘Comprehensive Liberalism?. In Immanuel
Kant (pp. 73-98). Routledge.
Robinson, R. M. (2019). Kant’s Categorical Imperative and Moral Duties. In Imperfect Duties of
Management (pp. 11-38). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Soccio, D. J. (2015). Archetypes of wisdom: An introduction to philosophy. Nelson Education.
Teson, F. (2018). A philosophy of international law. Routledge.