Philosopher #1: Kant
Section 1: What are imperatives?
● An imperative is something a person must do
● There are two types of imperatives
Section 2: What is the hypothetical imperative? Categorical imperative?
Hypothetical Imperative Categorical Imperative
● Hypothetical imperatives are those that tell a ● Categorical imperatives tell a person what they
person what they should do in order to achieve ought to do
some end ● The goodness of the act does not depend on its
● The goodness of the act depends on its results. result—it is good in itself. No other incentive
● Not universally valid, only valid for those who than
desire the end that the action is good in itself
● Depends on inclinations ● Universally valid- it's the rational choice
● Does not depend on inclations, may even oppose
them
Practical Example: Thirsty Man & Dying man
● A man locked alone in a room for one night, and he brought nothing with him except a
bottle of water. The man has had nothing to drink all day and is very thirsty. We can call
this man, "Thirsty Man."
● A hypothetical imperative might be that "a thirsty man must drink water if he wants to
stop being thirsty." If Thirsty Man lived by a maxim based on this hypothetical
imperative, it might be "If I can, I will drink water whenever I am thirsty."
● A few minutes later a second man is brought into the room. Both men are told that they
will be in the room all night, and that no one else will be back to see them until morning.
● Thirsty Man has not yet opened the water bottle. The new man has not had anything to
drink for many days. The second man is clearly dying of dehydration. If he is not given
water soon he will die. We can call this second man, "Dying Man."
● Thirsty Man now has a decision to make, will he share the water or drink it himself?
● Thirsty Man does not live by the maxim of "I will drink water when I am thirsty,"
because that maxim fails the test of being universally fulfilling the categorical imperative.
● Thirsty Man believes that the categorical imperative is the Golden Rule. To be an ethical
person, Thirsty Man believes he must at all times treat others the way he would want
them to treat him.
● From the categorical imperative of the Golden Rule, Thirsty Man has adopted a maxim of
"I will give anything I can to anyone I meet, if that person needs what I have much more
than I need it."
Section 1: What are imperatives?
● An imperative is something a person must do
● There are two types of imperatives
Section 2: What is the hypothetical imperative? Categorical imperative?
Hypothetical Imperative Categorical Imperative
● Hypothetical imperatives are those that tell a ● Categorical imperatives tell a person what they
person what they should do in order to achieve ought to do
some end ● The goodness of the act does not depend on its
● The goodness of the act depends on its results. result—it is good in itself. No other incentive
● Not universally valid, only valid for those who than
desire the end that the action is good in itself
● Depends on inclinations ● Universally valid- it's the rational choice
● Does not depend on inclations, may even oppose
them
Practical Example: Thirsty Man & Dying man
● A man locked alone in a room for one night, and he brought nothing with him except a
bottle of water. The man has had nothing to drink all day and is very thirsty. We can call
this man, "Thirsty Man."
● A hypothetical imperative might be that "a thirsty man must drink water if he wants to
stop being thirsty." If Thirsty Man lived by a maxim based on this hypothetical
imperative, it might be "If I can, I will drink water whenever I am thirsty."
● A few minutes later a second man is brought into the room. Both men are told that they
will be in the room all night, and that no one else will be back to see them until morning.
● Thirsty Man has not yet opened the water bottle. The new man has not had anything to
drink for many days. The second man is clearly dying of dehydration. If he is not given
water soon he will die. We can call this second man, "Dying Man."
● Thirsty Man now has a decision to make, will he share the water or drink it himself?
● Thirsty Man does not live by the maxim of "I will drink water when I am thirsty,"
because that maxim fails the test of being universally fulfilling the categorical imperative.
● Thirsty Man believes that the categorical imperative is the Golden Rule. To be an ethical
person, Thirsty Man believes he must at all times treat others the way he would want
them to treat him.
● From the categorical imperative of the Golden Rule, Thirsty Man has adopted a maxim of
"I will give anything I can to anyone I meet, if that person needs what I have much more
than I need it."
