hypothetical imperative

n. In the ethical system of Immanuel Kant, a moral command that is conditional on personal motive or desire.

hypothetical imperative

n (Philosophy) (esp in the moral philosophy of Kant) any conditional rule of action, concerned with means and ends rather than with duty for its own sake. Compare categorical imperative

Thesaurus

Noun

hypothetical imperative - a principle stating the action required to attain a desired goalprecept, principle - rule of personal conduct

hypothetical imperative

KANT's term for advice about action which has the form ‘if you wish to achieve X, do Y’. Such advice, based on empirical evidence, is not binding, but optional. Thus it lacks the force of a categorical imperative, Kant's term for any moral injunction which can be held to possess a universal force. The basis of such categorical imperatives (e.g. ‘thou shall not kill’) is to ‘act only on the maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law’.

hypothetical imperative

noun

Words related to hypothetical imperative

noun a principle stating the action required to attain a desired goal

Related Words

precept
principle

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