Kantian Ethics

Categorical Imperative

Kant’s “supreme principle of morality” that is universally applicable. Only moral principle that can be a genuine law.

Formula of Universal Law

A formulation of the CI that one should only act according to maxims that one can will to become universal laws applicable to everyone. (Do onto others as you would have done onto you ahh)

Formula of Humanity

Key formulation of the CI which commands us to treat humanity, whether in oneself or in others, always as an end and never merely as a means.

Maxim

A principle of action that specifies what action one intends to take and for what purpose.

Contradiction in Conception Test

A test for a maxim’s validity as a universal law, where failure occurs if one cannot even conceive of a world where the maxim is a universal law without contradiction. (If the institution would collapse, e.g lying)