Kant: An Inquiry Examining the Use of the Categorical Imperative and its Divergence from Common Moral Beliefs.

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In order to formalise our pre-existing moral beliefs, Kant proposes his categorical imperative. (409). The categorical imperative attempts this through assessing whether a maxim is morally wrong (not in conformity to reason) or morally right. Kant defines a maxim as the given reason for our action (421). The categorical imperative has two distinct formulae by which we can test maxims: the Formula of Uni-versal Law, and the Formula of Humanity. Each formulation can be failed two different ways by a max-im, with the different ways in which the maxim fails determining whether maxim can form a strict, or wide duty. In order for the categorical imperative to be successful in its purpose of formalising our moral beliefs, the results of the categorical imperative must be similar to our pre-existing moral beliefs, or else the categorical imperative does not represent our beliefs accurately. For my query I will look at an in-stance where the categorical imperatives rule out a maxim that appears morally acceptable. The formulation of universal law at its most basic is to “act as if the maxim of your action were to become by your will a universal law of nature” (421) and then see whether any contradictions occur. To universalise our maxim, we must imagine our maxim as a universal law over all rational agents, which is followed by all (422). In order to fail the formulation, the universalisation of the maxim must yield a con-tradiction. The desirability of the world with the universalised law is irrelevant to whether a maxim pass-es or fails the test. The first contradiction that can occur is that of conception. When the maxim is universalised, a contradiction may arise in conceiving of a world where the law is the case (422). When the maxi... ... middle of paper ... ...h formulae offer two ways in which a maxim can fail, allowing us to assess whether the maxim is a wide or strict duty. As stated, Kant’s project is a formalisation of our moral beliefs and intuitions; thus the result of tests ought to be similar to our pre held beliefs. One aspect of our beliefs appears to be lenience in our moral rules and tests. It appears that due to Kant’s rigid formulations of the categorical imperative, our moral beliefs are not accurately represented, with maxims that appear morally acceptable failing formulations of the cate-gorical imperative. Consequently, were we to follow the results of Kant’s categorical imperative, we would act differently to our moral beliefs, possibly paralyzing us to inaction, when it appears we ought to act. This illustrates the difference between our moral beliefs and the results of Kant’s categorical impera-tive.

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