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Glite Dictionary
categorical imperative

categorical imperative

1 9.9
A moral rule that applies to everyone and comes from duty, not personal wants or results
  • noun
  • /ˈkætəˌɡɔrɪkəl ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : imperativo categórico
  • The categorical imperative emphasizes acting from duty rather than personal motives or anticipated outcomes.
  • Kant's categorical imperative
  • Kantian categorical imperative
  • formulation of the categorical imperative

In particular, it takes the form of what Kant calls the categorical imperative.

Examples

  • Should I subject my choices, my views to Kant's categorical imperative and to Kant, his way of thinking about things?

  • Kant seeks to justify the categorical imperative by a transcendental argument.

    Academic text (2018)

  • Namely, how is a categorical imperative possible?

  • How many Canadians would not respect the categorical imperative and vote with their feet?

    Academic text (1993)

  • It imposes itself as a categorical imperative.

    Da 'Partments (2023)

  • For Korsgaard, the categorical imperative amounts to a constitutive principle of autonomous agency.

    Academic text (2018)

  • Kant's idea of the categorical imperative instructs us to act only according to maxims that can be universally applied.

  • Understanding the categorical imperative is crucial for grasping Kantian ethics and moral philosophy.

How Obligatory

categorical imperative
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Surface Forms

categorical imperative singular
categorical imperatives plural

Morphology

categorical + imperative

The constituents give a useful clue: 'categorical' (absolute, unqualified) plus 'imperative' (a command or necessary duty) can be combined to yield the idea of an 'absolute command'. However, the full, specific Kantian sense — a universal moral principle binding regardless of consequences or desires — is a technical philosophical concept that a B1 learner who only knows the basic word meanings is unlikely to derive without prior exposure or context.

Etymology

Categorical imperative is an idea from the philosopher Kant that asks us to treat a rule like a command for everyone. The word categorical means 'no conditions' and imperative means 'a command', so it refers to a moral rule you should follow no matter your wants or the result.