Immanuel Kant Morality

Immanuel Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals is one of his earliest works and is one of the most influential in the field of moral philosophy. In this work, Kant sets the stage and establishes the ground for future investigation by explaining setting and explaining the core concepts of the “supreme principle of morality” (Kant 1993)1. He presents his work in three sections, but only the first two will be focused on. Although it is not definitive, Kant attempts to work from ordinary moral knowledge to a supreme principle, and then attempts to test that principle in the second and third sections of the work. Kant explains that philosophy itself divides into two parts: pure (a priori) and empirical (experience). Kant defines metaphysics

The first proposition is that actions are genuinely and solely good, and are not done for selfish reasons. The second proposition, like the first, is that actions have no moral nor intrinsic worth because of their aims, but rather because of the maxim they are based on. When an action is done without any other motivation than a sense of duty, it is done with the understanding of moral principle. On the other hand, if an action is done for a specific reason, it is done with more than just duty. Lastly, like the other two, the third proposition is that “duty is the necessity of an action done out of respect for the law” (Kant 1993)3. Kant further explains that since particular motivations cannot be brought through moral principles, the moral law cannot be reason to do certain actions and instead must be applicable in all situations according to a universal maxim. This universal maxim gives individuals a common understanding of moral law and serves as a compass for moral behavior, despite and in avoidance of human inclinations. Kant presents his second section by stating that it would be impossible to derive universal moral laws from experience and there is no way to tell that an action has been done out of respect to duty and solely out of moral grounds. He argues that duty comes before experience because it holds a priori through reason. According to Kant, “it is quite absurd to try for popularity in the first inquiry

First, people have a duty to not commit suicide. Nature would be nonexistent if everyone was dead. Second, people have a duty to borrow money only with the intention to repay within a fixed time. If there was no intention to pay it back, no one would ever lend money out. Third, people have a duty to cultivate their talents to make themselves useful because no one would benefit from from purely idleness and indulgence. Lastly, people have a duty to help others who are struggling because if no one helps, no one would be able to find help. Through this we find that duties must be performed through categorical imperatives rather than hypothetical. In order to act as a rational being and in good will (to find an end in itself), individuals must act in such a way to always treat other people not merely as means to some end, but also as ends in