Introduction
Immanuel Kant is a truly outstanding philosopher who became widely known, and contemporaries still analyze his works. Kant’s ideas on the topic of ethics are a peculiar intellectual task for contemporaries, as he believes that morality is based on reason and the ability of man to govern it. Particularly important here is the concept of categorical imperative, which the philosopher proposed to determine categorical moral principles in society. Kant is convinced that moral principles may not differ depending on the person and their character. The following question stands for the current discussion: How can categorical imperative theory help overcome the shortcomings of moral relativism?
My Answer to the Question
The provisions of a categorical imperative can be an instruction for a person to perform moral acts. Kant determines this notion so that man must act according to his maxims (higher desires), which are universal laws in all actions, and the application of these desires determines the moral value of action (Kant, 2020). The basis of the ethical theory of the philosopher lies not in the explanation of subjective feelings but in the importance of a rational attitude to life and feelings. Moral relativism demonstrates the differentiation of moral principles, which cannot be the same for every member of society.
Advantages of Categorical Imperative
I believe that Kant’s rationalism is a good response to moral relativism and its ambiguity. According to Kant’s ethics, there are objective principles that do not depend on a person’s cultural and ethnic identity but are universal. In my view, this harmonization of ethical principles ensures that the challenges and difficulties posed by justifying cultural diversity are countered.
Conclusion
In summary, Immanuel Kant’s ethical philosophy is a universal point of view that provides a new perspective on ethics and philosophy in general. His concept of the categorical imperative is an insult to the nature of morality, but it also solves the question of moral relativism by emphasizing that ethical principles must be equal for every human being. However, the discourse on this topic is likely to continue, and Kant’s concept will still have to respond to future ethical challenges.
Reference
Kant, I. (2020). Groundwork of the metaphysic of morals. In Immanuel Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals in focus (pp. 17–98). Routledge.