ETHICS / ETIKA

Reaction Paper
SY. 2022-2023

MEMBERS: Samuel Abella DATE: February 20, 2023

Ella Mea Ballos
Aldion Barruga
Marjou Benlot
Arnold Catubay
Glynnis Gil Concepcion
Ronnick Dela Tonga

DIRECTION: Write a reaction paper about Categorical Imperative (as we have discussed last meeting on
Immanuel Kant)

For the introduction, we’ve decided to have a brief summary of what we discussed about the categorical

imperative by Immanuel Kant. The categorical imperative was introduced by Immanuel Kant, it says that

categorical imperative’s ability to offer a precise and consistent framework for making moral judgments, which

also posits the existence of a universal moral law that applies to all individuals. Categorical imperatives are

designed to enable us to evaluate moral conduct and draw moral judgments.

As we’ve talked about, the categorical imperative if you're willing to have everyone else act that same way too.

Kant says that a deed is ethically acceptable only if it can be made into a rule that everyone must abide by. This
indicates that categorical imperatives are rules or moral principles that everyone must abide by, whatever their

preferences or special situations. To know if we are acting morally, we must utilize reason and consider every

individual in our decisions. Hence, we must be able to discriminate between what we believe to be good and

wrong in every action we take. Let’s have an example. We’ve all decided to use Robin Hood as an example, as

we know his ethical principle is "to steal from the rich and give to the poor." As we know, stealing is immoral,

but helping the poor with that money is moral. As we’ve recalled from Kant’s formula for humanity, human

beings are subjectively different from other organisms. Immanuel Kant added that lying violates that categorical

imperative. For example, someone might be lying to further their advantage by exploiting another person as a

tool, which is against that categorical kind of imperative.

In conclusion, we all agreed that we must use our reasoning and consider every person to determine that we are

doing the right thing. These are specific objectives that depend on individual circumstances. Hypothetically,

imperatives are directives that only apply in certain situations and to specific individuals who just so happen to

share these aspirations and objectives. So, Kant wants to thought us that categorical imperative as a command
or moral law that all persons must follow, regardless of their desires or extenuating circumstances. It should be

binding for everyone.