MODULE 3:
Immanuel Kant
and Categorical
Imperative
Table of Contents
• Immanuel Kant
• Kant and rights theorists
• Good will
• Categorical Imperative
• Different kinds of rights
Immanuel Kant
Biography
Immanuel Kant was born
on April 22, 1724, in
Kalingrad, Russia
In 1740 Kant He published science
entered the papers, including
university of "General natural
Konigsberg. history and theory
of the heavens" in
1755
He spent 15 years
as a metaphysics
He died on February
lecturer. In 1781, he
12, 1804, in
published the first
Konigsberg, Russia
part of critique of
pure reason.
Kant ‘s Theory
It was the rational and
autonomous conformity of one's
Represent will to see right the universal
deontological ethics. moral law.
For him a right action Foundations of
consists solely in an Metaphysics of Moral,
action that is ruled and explains the philosophical
justified by a rule or foundation of morality
principle. and moral actions.
HOW YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT
THIS QUOTATION?
“Nothing can possibly be conceived in the
world which can be called good without
qualifications, EXCEPT good will”
Immanuel Kant
Good Will
A good will is not a derivative
from other good things which
“other good things” are what we
normally and naturally seek
about.
The following examples of common good provided
by Prof. Michael CHED’s General Education
Training held at Ateneo de Manila.
1. Good will is not about “gifts of fortune”
2. Good will is good, not because of the effects or consequences.
3. Good will is still not good though it is done out of duty IF
actions which are in accord with duty done out of
inclination or self-interest. These actions are merely
“praiseworthy” due to:
i) An inclination tendency may be natural or inherent,
i.e., feelings of pity, joy, fear
ii)Cultivated reactions shape by the family upbringing
or religious background
iii)Self-interest refers to benefits accrued to oneself
Actions can be categorized as:
1) Morally 2) Morally “neutral”: not
“praiseworthy” if in direct opposition to
in accord with duty, not for the sake of
the duty but it is the duty, but still not
based on some accordance to duty
other reasons.
4) Morally “bad”: if
3) Morally
done in direct
“good/valuable”:
if done for all the
opposition to duty.
sake of duty.
Categorical Imperative
• A rule of conduct that is conditional or absolute for all
agents.
• It is a universal ethical principle stating that one should
always respect the humanity in others, and that one should
only act in accordance with rules that could hold for
everyone.
Hypothetical Imperative
• a rule of conduct that is understood to apply to an individual
only if he or she desires a certain end and has chosen to act
on that desire.
• practical necessity of a possible action as means to something
else that is willed.
CATEGORICAL vs. HYPOTHETICAL
• Unconditional • Act is needed
directive or only as it is the
command means to an end.
• Objective Maxim • Subjective Maxim
Comparison of Hypothetical Imperative and Categorical
Imperative
The Hypothetical Imperative The Categorical Imperative
I should return the money to the Return the money.
owner because I may be punished for
keeping it.
I ought to study for this is all I need Study.
pass the exam.
I should not cheat during exam Do not cheat.
because cheating is punishable.
I must help the poor because I am Help the poor.
expected to do that being the head of
the outreach program.
I ought to respect my parents because Respect your/our parents.
I do not want to offend them for not
doing so.
Formulations Of Categorical
Imperatives:
I. “Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same
time will that it should become a universal law.”
II. “Act as to treat humanity, whether in your own person
or in that of any other, in every case as an end in itself,
not as means only.”
III.“Act so that your will is what makes a universal law.”
Meaning of Rights
• According to Laski, “Rights are those conditions of social
life without which no man can seek in general, to be
himself at his best.”
• T. H. Green explained that “Rights are powers necessary
for the fulfilment of man’s vocation as a moral being.”
• Beni Prasad stated that “Rights are nothing more nor less
than those social conditions which are necessary or
favourable to the development of personality”
Types of Rights
A. Natural Rights
B. Moral Rights
C. Legal Rights
D. Contractual Rights
Natural Rights
Many researchers have faith in natural rights. They
stated that people inherit several rights from nature.
Before they came to live in society and state, they used to
live in a state of nature. In it, they appreciated certain
natural rights, like the right to life, right to liberty and
right to property. Natural rights are parts of human
nature and reason. Political theory maintains that an
individual enters into society with certain basic rights
and that no government can deny these rights.
Moral Rights
Moral rights are personal rights that
connect the creator of a work to their
work. Moral rights are about being
properly named or credited when your
work is used, and the way your work is
treated and shown. Moral rights require
that your name is always shown with
your work. This is called right of
attribution.
Legal Rights
Legal rights are those rights which are accepted and
enforced by the state. Any defilement of any legal
right is punished by law. Law courts of the state
enforce legal rights. These rights can be enforced
against individuals and also against the government.
In this way, legal rights are different from moral
rights. Legal rights are equally available to all the
citizens. All citizens follow legal rights without any
discrimination. They can go to the courts for getting
their legal rights enforced.
Three types of Legal Rights
A. Civil Rights
B. Political Rights
C. Economic Rights
Civil Rights
Civil rights are those rights which
provide opportunity to each person to
lead a civilized social life. These fulfill
basic needs of human life in society.
Right to life, liberty and equality are
civil rights. Civil rights are protected by
the state.
Political Rights
Political rights are those rights by virtue of
which inhabitants get a share in the political
process. These allow them to take an active part
in the political process. These rights include right
to vote, right to get elected, right to hold public
office and right to criticize and oppose the
government. Political rights are really available
to the people in a democratic state.
Economic Rights
Economic rights are those rights
which provide economic security to
the people. These empower all
citizens to make proper use of their
civil and political rights. The basic
needs of every person are related
to his food, clothing, shelter, and
medical treatment.
Contractual Rights
Contractual rights originated from the practice
of promise-keeping. They apply to particular
individuals to whom contractual promises have
been made. Contractual rights ascend from
specific acts of contract making. They normally
come into being when the contract is made, and
they reflect the contractual duty that another
party has acquired at the same time.
