Kant's Grounding For The Metaphysics Of Morals

As I began reading Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant claims that the NLF of the CI tests for moral worth. In the second section of the book, Kant begins to explain the categorical imperative as the opposite of as hypothetical imperative identifying situations for which each imperative would fall. Explaining that a hypothetical imperative is only followed in certain situations as a means to something else while the CI is followed unconditionally no matter the situation “as good in itself” and to its own end. In this paper, I intend to show what the NLF has to do with testing moral worth and how the criteria are a formidable way to judge morality. I plan on completing this by quoting and analyzing relative information on the

The NLF commands that the will does not “perform an action simply because it is good” (Kant 414). The will should always fall in accord with reason and the will would become autonomous. For the NLF Kant is stating that one should behave in a way that they believe every rational being should behave. For example, if I am willing to steal whenever I am in debt, it should be permissible for everyone else to do the same. As stated in the

One contraction is called a contradiction in conception which means the maxim would destroy itself; one would have to ask, “how would things stand if my maxim were to become a universal law?” (Kant 422). An example that Kant uses is borrowing money with no intention of paying it back; this act would become a contraction as no one would believe in promises anymore because they know it will never be fulfilled. The second contradiction is called a contradiction in the will which means it brings about an end that no rational being would desire. An example, Kant uses are individuals not cultivating their talents. There could never be a universal law stating that no individual should cultivate their talents because every rational being will to be more developed, have the drive to better oneself, and are future-oriented. A maxim needs to pass both criteria to be considered