Question

Explain the first and second formulations of Kant's categorical imperative. Make sure your response is elaborated, detailed and clear.

Answer 1

• The first formulation of the categorical imperative says: “Always act so that you may also wish that the maxim of your action become a universal law.” This is to ask every time we act if we can reasonably and without wanting to contradict that everyone acts the same way.
• A maxim is the rule or principle on which you act. For example, I might make it my maxim to give at least as much to charity each year as I spend on eating out, or I might make it my maxim only to do what will benefit some member of my family.
• The command states, crudely, that you are not allowed to do anything yourself that you would not be willing to allow everyone else to do as well. You are not allowed to make exceptions for yourself. For example, if you expect other people to keep their promises, then you are obligated to keep your own promises.
• More accurately, it commands that every maxim you act on must be such that you are willing to make it the case that everyone always act on that maxim when in a similar situation.
• For example, if I wanted to lie to get something I wanted, I would have to be willing to make it the case that everyone always lied to get what they wanted - but if this were to happen no one would ever believe you, so the lie would not work and you would not get what you wanted.
• So, if you willed that such a maxim (of lying) should become a universal law, then you would thwart your goal - thus, it is impermissible to lie, according to the categorical imperative. It is impermissible because the only way to lie is to make an exception for yourself.
• A second formulation of the categorical imperative states: “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means. ”Simply put,we should not use others as objects,but recognize our own capabililites to achieve our ends.For instance,if i am lying to someone,to get money for myself,I am using that person as an object to get my money.