Essay about The Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals

Can suicide be justified as morally correct? This is one of the many questions Immanuel Kant answers in, â€Å"The Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals†. Kant discusses many questions with arguable answers, which explains why he is one of the most controversial philosophers still today. Throughout Kant’s work, multiple ideas are considered, but the Categorical Imperative is one of the most prevalent. Though this concept is extremely dense, the Categorical Imperative is the law of freedom that grounds pure ethics of the metaphysics of ethics. Categorical imperatives are the basis of morality because they provoke pure reasons for every human beings actions. By the end of his work, one will understand Kant’s beliefs on morality, but to explain†¦show more content†¦On the other hand, there are few to none examples of a Categorical Imperative, because as Kant would believe, they have to be actions that are good in themselves completely. To arrive at the Ca tegorical Imperative, Kant starts off by explaining that an action is good without qualification if done from duty and not primarily from inclination, or ulterior motives. This, in a more simplified manner, means an action is good if it was the right thing to do and a person did it for the sake of duty and not because of anything else, like instincts or feelings. Kant believes there are very few people in this world that can actually live up to the standard of duty. From this point, Kant states that moral worth is determined by the rule or principle by which an action has been decided, not in the purpose to be attained by it. This statement goes back to the difference of means versus ends; is a person’s action based on the mean or is it based on ends? After Kant arrives at this, he then affirms that duty is the reverence for the law. The difference between reason and will is established at this point. Reason, or thought, can be described as theoretical or pure reason, or it c an be described as practical reason. Kant describes theoretical reason as determining a given concept, but practical reason is idea of making the concept actual. Will, on the other side, can be broken down to either the â€Å"holy will† or empirically mixedShow MoreRelated Kants Groundworks of the Metaphysic of Morals Essay1656 Words   |  7 PagesKants Groundworks of the Metaphysic of Morals In Groundworks of the Metaphysic of Morals Immanuel Kant proposes that good will is the only thing which is good and that a person should act only under that maxim which he would will to be universal (273); Kant calls that test for morality the Categorical Imperative. Kant believes that the CI can be formulated in several different ways, a. The Formula of Universal Law b. 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In this paper, I will argue that Kant’s moral theory provides for a stronger rational approach to the problem presented in Example A than utilitarian moral theory as it provides a conclusive moral rationale based on the categorical imperative and universalization of maxims for its espousal against lying, whereas utilitarianismRead MoreThe Metaphysics Of Morals1418 Words   |  6 PagesIn the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Emmanuel Kant, we are presented with this conception of Kant’s called â€Å"the Form of Law.† With the discussion of the Form of Law, we will also come to encounter both moral law and th e categorical imperative. Kant’s notion of the Form of Law, we will later see has a great deal of significance within the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Within the discussion of the Form of Law’s significance in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, KantRead MoreKant s Theory Of Rights929 Words   |  4 Pagesworthy of dignity and respect. That the moral action does not consist on the consequences but instead in the intention of why the act was done. Its important to do what is right because it is right, and not for a personal motive. Kant does not believe in self-interest to be part of the moral worth. Self-interest such as wants, desires, and appetites are part of what he calls â€Å"motives of inclination†. He only believes that actions done by motive of duty have a moral worth. The differences between dutyRead MoreAnalysis Of Minority Report1067 Words   |  5 Pagesthe movie in further detail, does it hold its place? The Pre-crime program punishes individuals for having the intent to murder another, even when the action does not take place. Kant elaborates his standards pertaining ethics in Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, where Pre-crime can be further understood. Minority Report takes place in the year 2054, crime is virtually eradicated from Washington D.C. due to the Precrime crew. The program uses three gifted humans, known as Pre-Cogs, to