hypothetical imperative
- noun
- /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/
- Formal
:
imperativo hipotético
- When discussing moral actions, he noted that a hypothetical imperative only applies if one wants to achieve a specific result.
Examples
-
A hypothetical imperative might state, 'If you want to stay healthy, you should exercise regularly.'
-
Kant distinguished between the hypothetical imperative and the categorical imperative in his moral philosophy.
-
The concept of a hypothetical imperative helps explain why certain actions are only required in specific circumstances.
-
A hypothetical imperative suggests actions based on desired outcomes.
-
What is a hypothetical imperative?
-
The teacher explained that a hypothetical imperative suggests an action one should take to achieve a certain goal.
-
In philosophy class, we learned that a hypothetical imperative can guide decisions based on desired outcomes.
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
9.9
A moral rule that applies to everyone and comes from duty, not personal wants or results
How Obligatory
∞
1.0
307
2.7
- Formal
553
2.5
759
1.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from 'hypothetical' (conditional or assumed for argument) + 'imperative' (a command or requirement), so its meaning — a conditional/goal-directed prescription — is directly inferable from the parts. The construction is conceptually transparent and has clear parallels in other languages (e.g. Spanish 'imperativo hipotético'), making it understandable to learners who know both words.
Etymology
The noun hypothetical imperative comes from two words: hypothetical, meaning 'if', and imperative, meaning 'a command'. Picture a sign that says 'If you want coffee, press this button' — it tells you what to do to get the result. So the term means a rule that tells you to act only when you have a specific goal.