The Categorical Imperative

Blog Prompt 7:  Kant says that a person motivated solely by her sympathy to help someone in need would not have done something of true moral worth. Why? Distinguish between hypothetical and categorical imperatives in your answer and discuss the role of inclination.

Immanuel Kant argues that “a person motivated solely by her sympathy to help someone in need would not have done something of true moral worth” because feeling is never a good guide for morality however logic is the same everyday which moral law should be based with. When someone decides to do an act that does not exactly mean it is an act out of good will because they could be caught in an act to alter a situation to receive a certain outcome. A person has to do the right thing and not worry about the circumstances and outcome which could then be seen as an act of goodwill as well as be seen as moral. Some people might see morality and sympathy as similar however sympathy is more unreliable, because we tend to be more sympathetic to people like ourselves or the less fortunate. The more we see ourselves or our family members in other people the more sympathy we show. Sympathy can go a variety of directions such as racist, classist, genderment. I would say that sympathy isn’t a good guide for morality. A moral decision has to be pure and genuine from the heart but have no feelings attached. Kant believes that a person’s will comes from two different law types, imperative and hypothetical. Hypothetical imperative law is when an action is necessary if something is wanted like a if then statement. For example if one wants to make more money in a week they will then have to work more hours or find another job that pays more. Hypothetical law is based off of our desires and goals. However the categorical imperative is good without qualifications; it is universal, which means it will always be good no matter the situation and circumstance. Acts are done for the sake of being moral, and can be seen as a moral command. Kant believed if we all followed the categorical imperative we would all be acting in the best morally way possible. 

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