Kants Groundworks of the Metaphysic of Morals Essay

Kants Groundworks of the Metaphysic of Morals In Groundworks of the Metaphysic of Morals Immanuel Kant proposes that good will is the only thing which is good and that a person should act only under that maxim which he would will to be universal (273); Kant calls that test for morality the Categorical Imperative. Kant believes that the CI can be formulated in several different ways, a. The Formula of Universal Law b. The Formula of the End in Itself c. The Formula of the Kingdom of Ends Kant upheld scientific laws as the model rational principles. A characteristic of scientific laws is that they are universal, such as the law that when heated, gas will expand. Kant thought†¦show more content†¦In either kind of case, the maxim will fail the CI test. According to Kant, it would be wrong to act on a maxim of either kind. Kant gives examples of both kinds: i.: A person proposes to make a promise he doesnt intend to keep to pay back money in order to meet a need of his own. He must consider whether he could will a world in which everyone is motivated in precisely the same way. Kant claims that he cannot since it is only possible for people to promise in the first place if there is sufficient trust for others to believe that the person promising intends to keep his promise. But a world (otherwise like our own) in which everyone acted on this maxim would be a world in which such trust will not exist. Therefore it is impossible even to conceive of a world in which everyone acts on this maxim as though by a law of nature; therefore it is wrong to act on this maxim oneself. Note this example also illustrates the idea of a contradiction in will. The person (in the example) who makes a lying promise uses the trust of others and the practice of promising for his own ends. But would these ends be promoted or harmed by everyones making such promises? If the latter, then he cannot rationally will that world and also will that his own ends be promoted by his making the lying promise.Show MoreRelatedImmanuel Kants Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals952 Words   |  4 PagesImmanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals serves the purpose of founding moral theory from moral judgment and examining whether there is such thing as a ‘moral law’ that is absolute and universal. In chapter three of his work, he discusses the relationship between free will and the moral law and claims â€Å"A free will and a will under moral laws are one and the same.† He stands firm in his belief that moral law is what guides a will that is fr ee from empirical desires. 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