Purchase Solution

Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative universality debate

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative is meant to be a universal principle, that is, a principle for all persons at all time periods in all societies. Both ethical relativists and ethical skeptics deny that there is any such universally valid principle. Discuss the issues that both groups raise in their objections to the categorical imperative.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

The solution is a 925-word essay describing, explaining and discussing Immanuel Kant's concept of categorical imperative in relation to its debate of being universal and applicable in all societies; the article includes in the discussion the criticism of ethical relativists and moral skeptics against the validity of the principle. A word version of the solution is attached. references are listed for further research.

Solution Preview

Dear Student,
Hello. The solution below, though concise should get you started. Good luck and thank you or using Brainmass.

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
------------------------------------------

Immanuel Kant & the Categorical Imperative

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) by establishing the idea of the 'Social Sciences? has come to be regarded as one of the most influential European thinkers of all time. His essay, "Answering the Question: What is the Enlightenment?" defined said age in terms of knowing, learning & thinking - laying down what the Enlightenment revolution was about. Sapere Aude, which in Latin translates to 'Dare to know?, is the motto he pushed forward to his fellow scholars. Dare despite religious conventions, seek using logic, know by facts & reason. For this, he was one of the first to have argued for a 'a paradigm shift' in terms of the circuit of knowledge moving from religion becoming the basis of faith to reason replacing it. He campaigned at thinking 'autonomously, reflexively', free of the influence & dictates of then themes - faith, superstition, the politics of the church. Just as surely as he is deeply influential in the Social Sciences, he was also very much a key thinker in Philosophy, especially in morality and Ethics. Much of his work later on became the concern of the likes of Karl Popper, Hegel, Schelling & Schopenhauer especially the movement on Idealism. Today still, his work is deeply influential in both analytical and continental philosophy. ...

Solution provided by:
Xenia Rochelle Jones, MA, PhD (IP)
Education
  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
Recent Feedback
  • "Thank you!:)"
  • "Excellent, thank you!:)"
  • "Thank you for your timely help. I have submitted another posting (656038) and assigned it directly to you. Please help."
  • "Thank you so much for your timely help. Much appreciated."
  • "Thanks so much for your support."
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy

Short quiz relating to Descartes

The World Health Organization

This quiz assesses the students knowledge about the World Health Organization. Although listed under “Philosophy” it is relevant to health care, political science, pre-med, and social scientist students as well.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Understanding Kant and Mill through Casablanca

    This solution addresses the question of how Kant's categorical imperative and Mill's utilitarianism can be expressed through the film Casablanca.

  • Immanuel Kant's Ideas and Philosophy

    324765 Immanuel Kant Discuss each subject with at least 150 words: Kants Phenomena and Noumena Kants Moral Law, Good Will and Categorical Imperative Kantian Theory of Justice On Immanuel Kant's Philosophy These concepts are interconnected within

  • A critical analysis of Kant's ethical theory

    Moral laws are the LAWS of reason Since LAWS, do not admit of EXCEPTIONS, Categorical imperatives are UNIVERSAL The general form of ALL moral imperatives is The Categorical Imperative - (1) conformity, (2) Universality THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE

  • Kant's Categorical Imperative

    Sincerely, OTA 105878/Xenia Jones ----------------------------------------- Kant's Categorical Imperative What is meant by Kant's categorical imperative?

  • Question of ethics under oath

    What the Immanual Kant's categorical imperative suggest is given.

  • Kant's second argument for the Categorical Imperative

    51873 Kant's second argument for the Categorical Imperative I present and explain Kant's second argument for the Categorical Imperative, the "argument from Rational Action". Please see attached file.

  • Kant's categorical imperative and America's ethical dilemma.

    Using Kant's reasoning regarding his categorical imperative, how can we apply it to an ethical dilemma facing the United States?

  • Kant's categorical imperative and concept of absolute rule

    129402 Kant's first categorical imperative Kant would say that we have a duty to never lie. Why does Kant think this? Is he right? Why? Be sure to discuss Kant's first categorical imperative and concept of absolute rules.

  • Deontological Ethics: In Business

    ., duty and rights), and by Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative more specifically. 1) Adelphia Communications started in 1952 with $300 selling cable subscriptions.

View More Related Solutions