Categorical imperative

[Jessica]

A definition [with teeth].

Professors will have you study this forever. Heres what you need to know. It means what it sounds like: an imperative (commandment) that you either follow, or youll be reclassified as [immoral].

[Kant] had his, and many people think his was the only one, but its not true. A categorical imperative is a definition-based morality. Even the Utilitarians use them.

[SanchoPn 0]

the moral principle that behavior should be determined by duty

[AterasDema 0]

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

[Dave Paprocki]

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.

[Georgbund 0]

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