Categorical Imperative as a method for determining morality of

actions. This formula is a two part test. First, one creates a maxim

and considers whether the maxim could be a universal law for all

rational beings. Second, one determines whether rational beings would

will it to be a universal law. Once it is clear that the maxim passes

both prongs of the test, there are no exceptions. As a paramedic faced

with a distraught widow who asks whether her late husband suffered in

his accidental death, you must decide which maxim to create and based

on the test which action to perform. The maxim "when answering a

widow's inquiry as to the nature and duration of her late husbands

death, one should always tell the truth regarding the nature of her

late husband's death" (M1) passes both parts of the Universal Law

Formation of the Categorical Imperative. Consequently, according to

Kant, M1 is a moral action. The initial stage of the Universal Law

Formation of the Categorical Imperative requires that a maxim be

universally applicable to all rational beings. M1 succeeds in passing

the first stage. We can easily imagine a

perform because it produces immediate gratification and allows many

might be better to tell the truth, and according to utilitarianism

whether upon hearing the news, the widow would commit suicide. Granted

and expected action is to tell the truth. By asking she has already

it a lie and the maxim fails. Perhaps the die-hard liar can

would be many, many specific, but universal, laws. In order to answer

always answer widows truthfully when queried. Therefore, this maxim is

change and the people who were originally included in the universal

ask if rational beings would really will such a world in which there

moral sensibilities to consider that actions are moral or immoral

telling the truth brings the widow to the point where she commits

encompasses only a few people, then it passes the first test. For

morality of the original action in itself. Utilitarianism would

Certainly, a universal law that prevents the feelings of people who

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Approximate Word count = 1551
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)