subject: Understanding Kant’s Categorical Imperative [print this page] Act on the premise that the choice you should become universal law, and act so that you treat humanity always as an end and never as a means only. Immanuel Kant theory of universal law asserts principally that when a man makes a decision he should think about his decision being applied to every same situation and circumstance. Such that, if a poor man thought of stealing, this man should think about how the world would be if every poor man stole. Does his circumstance excuse him? Kants theory stresses on not relying on situation ethics in making a decision. This type of ethics is too subjective which leads to the other focus of his theory: treating humanity as an end and not merely a means to an end. It is in this that he reasoned with duties. Kant did not put down with the notion of character. However, he emphasized more on the notion of duties. He believed that duties were what could help a man make an ethical decision even when his character might be inclined to do the opposite. Voiceville Communications, Inc. Our duty is to our clients, our employees. We are an equal oppurtunity employer. We are an excellent business partner. He categorized duties into two: strict duties and meritorious duties. To plainly differentiate the two, strict duties were negative in nature while meritorious duties are those that are more positive. Strict duties can be described as prohibiting, such as: not to murder, not to steal, and not to break promises. These duties are considered mandatory. Meritorious duties are somewhat persuasive in nature. It encourages man to go beyond himself such as: to help others and to show gratitude. Although Kants theory in Ethics has been attacked in several angles, his theory actually encourages equality for all men.
