Explain Kant’s categorical imperative.

-Kant’s Categorical imperative talks about one’s duty whether to act on principle
or maxim. His categorical imperative is a deontological ethical theory, which means it is
based on the idea that there are certain objective ethical rules in the world. “Deontology”
comes from the Greek word “deon” meaning duty – in other words,
Deontological minded philosophers believe we have a duty to act in certain ways, in
accordance with moral laws. For Kant there was only one such categorical imperative,
which he formulated in various ways. Act only according to that maxim by which you
can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” is a purely formal or
logical statement and expresses the condition of the rationality of conduct rather than that
of its morality. So act as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in another,
always as an end, and never as only a means.

4. For Kant, what is role of reason in living morally

Kant argues that reason directs human wills to operate within the standard of moral law.
By conforming to moral law, one is invariably acting in accordance to the categorical
imperative, in which an agent performs an action because it ought to be performed, rather
than hypothetical imperative, which is prompted by sensual and selfish desires. Reason
for him is what deems an action ethical or otherwise. Kant believes that when we wish to
determine the moral status of an action, we consult reason. An act either accords with
reason or it does not. If it accords with reason, we must do it, if not, we must avoid it. He
believes that one of one of the functions and capacities of our reason is to produce a will
which is good not as a means to some further end, but good in itself