Definitions for categorical imperative
cat·e·gor·i·cal im·per·a·tive

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. categorical imperativenoun

   the moral principle that behavior should be determined by duty

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. categorical imperativenoun

   A fundamental ethical principle intended as a guide for determining whether any contemplated action is morally right, developed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804).

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Categorical imperative

   The categorical imperative (German: kategorischer Imperativ) is the central philosophical concept in the deontological moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant. Introduced in Kant's 1785 Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, it is a way of evaluating motivations for action. It is best known in its original formulation: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law."According to Kant, sentient beings occupy a special place in creation, and morality can be summed up in an imperative, or ultimate commandment of reason, from which all duties and obligations derive. He defines an imperative as any proposition declaring a certain action (or inaction) to be necessary. Hypothetical imperatives apply to someone who wishes to attain certain ends. For example, "I must drink something to quench my thirst" or "I must study to pass this exam." A categorical imperative, on the other hand, denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that must be obeyed in all circumstances and is justified as an end in itself. Kant expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the popular moral philosophy of his day, believing that it could never surpass the level of hypothetical imperatives: a utilitarian says that murder is wrong because it does not maximize good for those involved, but this is irrelevant to people who are concerned only with maximizing the positive outcome for themselves. Consequently, Kant argued, hypothetical moral systems cannot persuade moral action or be regarded as bases for moral judgments against others, because the imperatives on which they are based rely too heavily on subjective considerations. He presented a deontological moral system, based on the demands of the categorical imperative, as an alternative.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. categorical imperative

   The categorical imperative is a moral principle developed by philosopher Immanuel Kant, proposing that morality is absolute and universal, defined by rationality and reasoning rather than subjective feelings or preferences. It suggests that an action is morally right if it can be universally applied to all similar situations, not depending on particular desires or goals. Any action, according to Kant, must pass the test of universality to be considered morally right.

WikidataRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Categorical imperative

   The categorical imperative is the central philosophical concept in the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant. Introduced in Kant's 1785 Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, it may be defined as a way of evaluating motivations for action. According to Kant, human beings occupy a special place in creation, and morality can be summed up in one ultimate commandment of reason, or imperative, from which all duties and obligations derive. He defined an imperative as any proposition declaring a certain action to be necessary. Hypothetical imperatives apply to someone dependent on them having certain ends to the meaning: ⁕if I wish to quench my thirst, I must drink something; ⁕if I wish to acquire knowledge, I must learn. A categorical imperative, on the other hand, denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that asserts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself. It is best known in its first formulation: Kant expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the popular moral philosophy of his day, believing that it could never surpass the level of hypothetical imperatives: a utilitarian says that murder is wrong because it does not maximize good for those involved, but this is irrelevant to people who are concerned only with maximizing the positive outcome for themselves. Consequently, Kant argued, hypothetical moral systems cannot persuade moral action or be regarded as bases for moral judgments against others, because the imperatives on which they are based rely too heavily on subjective considerations. He presented a deontological moral system, based on the demands of the categorical imperative, as an alternative.

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Categorical imperative

   Kant's name for the self-derived moral law, "universal and binding on every rational will, a commandment of the autonomous, one and universal reason."

Matched Categories

1. • Moral Principle

How to pronounce categorical imperative?

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How to say categorical imperative in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of categorical imperative in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of categorical imperative in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=categorical imperative
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Categorical_Imperative
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categorical_Imperative
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=categorical imperative
6. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#CategoricalImperative