Philosophy - Kant's Universal Law Formation of the Categorical Imperative.

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Philosophy – Kant’s Universal Law Formation of the Categorical Imperative Kantian philosophy outlines the Universal Law Formation of theCategorical Imperative as a method for determining morality of actions.This formula is a two-part test. First, one creates a maxim and considers whether the maxim could be a universal law for all rationalbeings. Second, one determines whether rational beings would will it tobe a universal law. Once it is clear that the maxim passes both prongsof the test, there are no exceptions. As a paramedic faced with adistraught widow who asks whether her late husband suffered in hisaccidental death, you must decide which maxim to create and based on thetest which action to perform. The maxim "when answering a widow'sinquiry as to the nature and duration of her late husbands death, oneshould always tell the truth regarding the nature of her late husband'sdeath" (M1) passes both parts of the Universal Law Formation of theCategorical Imperative. Consequently, according to Kant, M1 is a moralaction.The initial stage of the Universal Law Formation of the CategoricalImperative requires that a maxim be universally applicable to allrational beings. M1 succeeds in passing the first stage. We can easilyimagine a world in which paramedics always answer widows truthfully whenqueried. Therefore, this maxim is logical and everyone can abide by itwithout causing a logical impossibility. The next logical step is toapply the second stage of the test.The second requirement is that a rational being would will this maximto become a universal law. In testing this part, you must decide whetherin every case, a rational being would believe that the morally correctaction is to tell the
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truth. First, it is clear that the widow expectsto know the truth. A lie would only serve to spare her feelings if shebelieved it to be the truth. Therefore, even people who would considerlying to her, must concede that the correct and expected action is totell the truth. By asking she has already decided, good or bad, that shemust know the truth. What if telling the truth brings the widow to the point where shecommits suicide, however? Is telling her the truth then a moral actionalthough its consequence is this terrible response? If telling thewidow the truth drives her to ...

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