Kant's Categorical Imperative: A Beginner's Guide

Kant's Categorical Imperative: A Beginner's Guide

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand the concept of Kant's Categorical Imperative and be able to apply it to ethical dilemmas.

Introduce the learning objective and explain how it relates to the importance of understanding Kant's philosophy.

What do you already know about Kant's philosophy?

Who is Immanuel Kant?

Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher who is famous for his ethical theory and work on metaphysics.

Provide a brief introduction to Kant's background and significance in philosophy.

Deontological Ethics

Kant's ethical theory is known as deontological ethics, which means that actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of their consequences.

Explain the basic principles of deontological ethics and how they differ from consequentialist theories.

The Categorical Imperative

The Categorical Imperative is a central concept in Kant's ethical theory. It states that we should only act according to the maxim (rule) that we would will to become a universal law.

Explain the meaning of the Categorical Imperative and provide an example to help students understand the concept.

First Formulation

Kant's first formulation of the Categorical Imperative states: 'Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.'

Explain the first formulation of the Categorical Imperative and provide an example to help students understand it.

Second Formulation

Kant's second formulation of the Categorical Imperative states: 'Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.'

Explain the second formulation of the Categorical Imperative and provide an example to help students understand it.

Applying the Categorical Imperative

To apply the Categorical Imperative, we must first identify the maxim we are following, and then ask if we would be willing to make it a universal law. If not, we should not act on it.

Provide an example ethical dilemma and guide students through the process of applying the Categorical Imperative to make a decision.

Conclusion

Kant's Categorical Imperative provides a useful framework for making ethical decisions, emphasizing the importance of treating all individuals as ends in themselves and considering the universalizability of our actions.

Summarize the key points of the lesson and emphasize the relevance of Kant's philosophy to modern ethical dilemmas.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.