Kant's Categorical Imperatives

Ethics and the Divine:

• Previous discussions on ethics, such as Divine Command Theory and Natural Law, often link morality to a deity or supernatural force.

• Divine Command Theory posits that good and bad are determined by a deity (e.g., God of Abraham, panoply of gods).

• Natural Law (Thomas Aquinas) suggests morality originates within us, but only because we were created by God with preloaded moral sensibilities.

Immanuel Kant's Perspective:

• Kant, an $18^{th}$-century German philosopher, argued against pairing religion and morality, advocating for their separation.

• He believed morality should stem from reason and consideration for other people.

• Morality is a constant, universal fact, analogous to mathematical truths (e.g., $2+2=4$), applicable regardless of religious beliefs or lack thereof.

Hypothetical vs. Categorical Imperatives:

• Hypothetical Imperatives:

  • Commands based on desires, expressed as