Formulations of the Categorical Imperative

In PHL202, Foundations of Ethics, we have been slowly creeping through the rich landscape of Immanuel Kant's Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten in James Ellington's translation Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals (3rd ed. Indianapolis: Hackett: 1993).

I think now that we have been working on Kant for a few weeks, re-reading (or reading) Ellington's introduction may be a valuable exercise, as Ellington summarizes much of what I have been presenting in class with extended examples and explanations.


I believe it would be useful to prepare a glossary of the specialized terms Kant uses:

imperative
categorical imperative
hypothetical imperative
formulations of the moral law (categorical imperative)

duty
four cases of duty

respect

inclination versus interest

autonomy versus heteronomy

end versus means
end in itself

kingdom of ends

universality (unity)
plurality
totality

law
universal law

will
the good will

practical

practical law

practical necessity

maxim

morality

I recommend that you prepare a set of index cards, on each one of which is one of these terms; on the reverse write out the definition. You will find quickly that the terms link to each other in a variety of ways -- they are not linearly progressive, but are a network of ideas -- so having a set of such cards, you can arrange the cards in various ways while contemplating their relationships. I recognize this as something earnestly to be desired, but ideal.

Formulations of the Categorical Imperative:

Formula of the Universal Law: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law" (30).

Formula of the Law of Nature: "Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a universal law of nature" (30).

Formula of the End in Itself: "Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means" (36).

Formula of Autonomy: Act as though "the will of every rational being [is] a will that legislates universal law" (38).

Formula of the Kingdom of Ends: Act as though a member of the (ideal) kingdom of ends (39).

Let's have all that again:

Universal Formula of the Categorical Imperative: "Act according to that maxim which can at the same time make itself a universal law" (42).

The Supreme Law of the Unconditionally Good Will: "Act always according to that maxim whose universality as a law you can at the same time will" (42).

"Act according to maxims which can at the same time have for their object themselves as universal laws of nature" (42).

"So act in regard to every rational being (yourself and others) that he [or she] may at the same time count in your maxim as an end in [her- or] himself"; "Act on a maxim which at the same time contains in itself its own universal validity for every rational being" (43).

"So act as if your maxims were to serve at the same time as a universal law (for all rational beings)" (43).

"Act in accordance with the maxims of a member legislating laws for a merely possible kingdom of ends" (43).