Immanuel Kant
Categorical Imperative Approach
Immanuel Kant was born in Konigsberg, East Prussia in 1724. He attended the Collegium
Fridiricianum at eight years old where he was taught classicism. Then he went to the
University of Konigsberg where he spent his career focusing on philosophy, mathematics,
and physics. When his is father past away, Kant left the university and earned his living as
a private tutor. In 1755 he returned to the University to receive his doctorate in 1756.
Immanuel Kant remained at the University teaching for 15 years. He received his tenure at
the University in 1770, where he stayed for the next 27 years. In 1792 he was barred from
teaching or writing on religious subjects do to his unorthodox approach in his teaching by
King Fredrick William II. He returned to teaching after the king had passed away five
years later. In his retirement he published a summary of his views on religion. Immanuel
Kant passed away in 1804.
Immanuel Kant was widely known for his categorical imperative theory. Categorical
imperative is how one determines one’s duty, what principles are proper, and which are
not. Doing one’s duty for the sake of duty itself is better than simply acting in agreement
with one’s duty. Telling the truth in order to benefit yourself is acting in accordance with
duty and not acting for the sake of duty.
The categorical imperative states, “Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same
time will it should become universal law(Keele, 2008).” Maxim in this sentence is the
