In the New Age, the three main philosophical trends (pantheism, rationalism and naturalism) tried differently to answer the question of what kind of moral being a person is. Descartes believed that the environment and the individual are opposed to each other. Helvetius and his followers, like Rousseau, wrote about the harmony of man with nature.
Against this background, Kant's critical view was very helpful. He spoke sarcastically about contemporary moral theories. He also tried to rethink and otherwise pose the existing ethical issues. What is
Kant's philosophy known to many of us
? The categorical imperative - this is the term we most often recall from the university course.
First of all, the philosopher believes that man cannot and should not be guided solely by his own goals and interests. Yes, people do this, but from this general chaos arises. Therefore, a person should think about his "kind", that is, about everyone, and then he will act according to the requirements of moral law. Therefore, we just need to go beyond our "private" horizon. The categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant is the philosopher's highest moral commandment that meets this attitude. In fact, this is a requirement for an individual to "look" beyond his limb and see others. A man must act in such a way that both he and the other represent for him the whole human race. And from this point of view, he cannot consider others as a means, but only and exclusively as a goal.
The concept of the categorical imperative for the philosopher is a fundamental principle of the teaching of what virtues are. Why does he have such a name? Because it should be done only for his own sake. This principle in itself is a command (imperativus in Latin).
He does not need evidence or justification. It represents the pure conclusion of practical reason, formulated in various works. From The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morality to the Critique of Practical Reason, we see the categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant. What is he talking about? That any rational being is a goal in itself. This principle must be subject to all morality.
What does it mean? Kant divides nature and culture into two hostile worlds. In the second of them - intelligible - are all the values of the mind. This is a world of freedom, and nature prevails in necessity.
If a person wants to become a moral being, he must live as if he lived in this very transcendental universe. So he will rise from the everyday field to the level of perfection. The categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant, according to its author, "glows from the inside." Therefore, it does not require evidence in the usual sense of the word. If you are guided by it, you will not find yourself rewards in this society, but in another world - this is the only principle of behavior.
Since a person must be a goal and the highest value for other people, for this he must be exalted and overcome his selfish will. He must act as if his actions were law for others in the world where he would like to live. Therefore, the categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant logically leads us to the following conclusion. A true moral person should behave according to these highest requirements, and not be guided by the principles of profit and expediency. Yes, we are surrounded by an ocean of meanness and conformism. But only by showing courage and perseverance, we will remain faithful to ourselves and not betray our own personality.