English

Noun

categorical imperative ‎(plural categorical imperatives)

1. (ethics) A fundamental ethical principle intended as a guide for determining whether any contemplated action is morally right, developed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804).

Usage notes

• Kant himself used "categorical imperatives" in the plural is his exposition in the The Metaphysics of Morals. While within his system there is only one categorical imperative, and thus properly no plural, the several formulations of it by Kant are sometimes referred to as "categorical imperatives." Likewise, the second formulation of the categorical imperative is often called "Kant's second categorical imperative."

Translations

See also

• deontology
• golden rule
• moral imperative
• Ten Commandments