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Definition 2024


categorical_imperatives

categorical imperatives

English

Noun

categorical imperatives

  1. plural of categorical imperative
    • (Can we date this quote?) 1797, Immanuel Kant, The Metaphysics of Morals, in The Philosophy of Law: An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence, trans. W. Hastie, (2002), page 29
      According to these Categorical Imperatives, certain actions are allowed or disallowed as being morally possible or impossible […].
    • 2001, Roger Scruton, Christopher Janaway, German Philosophers: Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, page 75
      Categorical imperatives do not typically contain an 'if. They tell you what to do unconditionally. They may nevertheless be defended by reasons.