categorical imperative

 

Watch this Crash Course Philosophy video on Kant’s categorical imperative.

Then, demonstrate your understanding of Kant’s categorical imperative by considering the following scenarios. In your post, do the following:

• State the maxim that would be created in each situation (*see note below!)
• Explain how you believe a good Kantian would respond based on the maxim. Include reasons for your answers; in other words, instead of simply saying ‘a Kantian would respond thusly’ explain WHY you think a Kantian would respond that way. 

Scenario 1: You are experiencing symptoms that could indicate you have Covid-19, but you go to a friend’s birthday party regardless.

Scenario 2: You want to lie to a friend about your dislike for her romantic partner to avoid hurting her feelings.

*Pgs. 549-551 of our text specifically discuss how a maxim would be reached in 4 example scenarios. A maxim is a general principle derived from a specific situation, and it is expressed as a complete sentence. As an example, were I late to a meeting and wondering if it would be ethical for me to speed from a Kantian perspective, the maxim I would derive from this specific scenario, my speeding to get to a meeting, would be a general, universal statement: everyone should speed, or, it would be morally right for everyone to speed. Then, I would reason about this general, universal statement to decide whether it would be moral for me to speed. Formulate a maxim for each of the above scenarios as a complete statement expressing a universal action. 

Copy the below link in youtube to complete the discussion board…

 

Works Linked/Cited:

“Kant & Categorical Imperatives: Crash Course Philosophy #35.” YouTube, uploaded by Crash Course, 14 Nov. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bIys6JoEDw. Accessed 15 Aug. 2019.