Kant, Immanuel

Kant's Formulas

The categorical imperative can be examined through its specific tenets, one of which is the Formula of Universal Law. This formula states that one should never engage in an act unless it can be accepted universally, and if one were to engage in an action, it should be expected that others will engage in it as well. Put another way, if one were to engage in deception, according to universal law, one would have to accept lying as a conventional behavior, and at times one would be deceived by others. By most standards, such a notion is impractical and undesirable; therefore, lying would be deemed unacceptable because it cannot be upheld as a universal law.

Kant uses the example of lying, or a universal law of lying promises (for example, promising to repay a loan when one does not intend to do so), to illustrate this tenet of the categorical imperative. Through his example, Kant argues that most people would not want to be told they were going to be paid back the money they loaned to someone else if this were not to be the case. Therefore, it would be universally immoral for one to make such an empty promise to others.

[Page 572]Another iteration of the categorical imperative is the Formula of the Kingdom of Ends, which some philosophers argue is at the core of Kant's moral viewpoint. This formula stipulates that people should not be treated as a means to an end, but as ends in themselves. An individual should also acknowledge that other people have their own ends. The Kingdom of Ends means that individuals should treat other people based on others' inherent value, not solely on how individuals can use other people to get what they want. To adhere to this formula, individuals would respect that all people should have a choice in the actions they take, and these actions should show a respect for others' agency. This point is not contradictory to the idea that at times individuals treat each other as ends, such as hailing a cab driver to get where they need to go, or asking a colleague to read a writing sample to obtain helpful feedback. However, the categorical imperative stipulates against treating people merely as an end. The people an individual enlists to get the things he or she wants also have their own ends, as well as the agency to decide whether to help the individual get those desired things.

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