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Kantian ethics

Overview

Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory developed by German philosopher Immanuel Kant that is based on the notion that "I ought never to act except in such a way that I could also will that my maxim should become a universal law." It is also associated with the idea that "it is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will." The theory was developed in the context of Enlightenment rationalism. It states that an action can only be moral if it is motivated by a sense of duty, and its maxim may be rationally willed a universal, objective law.

Central to Kant's theory of the moral law is the categorical imperative. Kant formulated the categorical imperative in various ways. His principle of universalizability requires that, for an action to be permissible, it must be possible to apply it to all people without a contradiction occurring. Kant's formulation of humanity, the second formulation of the categorical imperative, states that as an end in itself, humans are required never to treat others merely as a means to an end, but always as ends in themselves. The formulation of autonomy concludes that rational agents are bound to the moral law by their own will, while Kant's concept of the Kingdom of Ends requires that people act as if the principles of their actions establish a law for a hypothetical kingdom.

The tremendous influence of Kant's moral thought is evident both in the breadth of appropriations and criticisms it has inspired and in the many real world contexts in which it has found application.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).

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Consequently obedience to it, which may be wise or foolish according to circumstances, is yet always actuated by selfishness, and therefore morally worthless. The complete unthinkableness and nonsense of this conception of an =unconditioned obligation=, which lies at the root of the Kantian Ethics, appears later in the system itself, namely in the _Kritik der Praktischen Vernunft_: just as some concealed poison in…
Arthur Schopenhauer, The Basis of Morality
The chapter “ON THE IMPERATIVE FORM OF THE KANTIAN ETHICS.” is titled for Kantian ethics; the author is tied to Kantian ethics in the knowledge graph.
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I. PRELIMINARY REMARKS II. ON THE IMPERATIVE FORM OF THE KANTIAN ETHICS III. ON THE ASSUMPTION OF DUTIES TOWARDS OURSELVES IN PARTICULAR IV. ON THE BASIS OF THE KANTIAN ETHICS. V. ON THE LEADING PRINCIPLE OF THE KANTIAN ETHICS VI. ON THE DERIVED FORMS OF THE LEADING PRINCIPLE OF THE KANTIAN ETHICS VII. KANT'S DOCTRINE OF CONSCIENCE VIII. KANT'S DOCTRINE OP THE INTELLIGIBLE AND EMPIRICAL CHARACTER. IX. FICHTE'S…
Arthur Schopenhauer, Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Arthur Schopenhauer
Names Kantian ethics several times; the author is tied to Kantian ethics in the knowledge graph.
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It follows incontestably that, to whatever laws any rational being may be subject, he being an end in himself must be able to regard himself as also legislating universally in respect of these same laws, since it is just this fitness of his maxims for universal legislation that distinguishes him as an end in himself; also it follows that this implies his dignity (prerogative) above all mere physical beings, that he…
Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
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Kantian ethics

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