categorical imperative

English - Turkish

Definition of categorical imperative in English Turkish dictionary: kategorik zorunluluk

English - English

Definition of categorical imperative in English English dictionary: A fundamental ethical principle intended as a guide for determining whether any contemplated action is morally right, developed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804); rule formulated by Emmanuel Kant stating that one must do what one expects other to do in a similar situation; the moral principle that behavior should be determined by duty; In the ethical system of Immanuel Kant, an unconditional moral law that applies to all rational beings and is independent of any personal motive or desire. In Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy, an imperative that presents an action as unconditionally necessary (e.g., "Thou shalt not kill"), as opposed to an imperative that presents an action as necessary only on condition that the agent wills something else (e.g., "Pay your debts on time, if you want to be able to obtain a mortgage"). Kant held that there was only one formally categorical imperative, from which all specific moral imperatives could be derived. In one famous formulation, it is: "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." See also deontological ethics
categorical imperatives: plural form of categorical imperative
Categorical imperatives do not typically contain an 'if. They tell you what to do unconditionally. They may nevertheless be defended by reasons.

categorical imperative

Hyphenation

cat·e·go·ri·cal im·pe·ra·tive

kätıgôrîkıl împerıtîv

/ˌkatəˈgôrəkəl əmˈperətəv/ /ˌkætəˈɡɔːrɪkəl ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/

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