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Single Idea 24442

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 3. Universalisability]

Full Idea

It has become a familiar criticism of Kant to point out that simply universalizing the maxims of one's actions does not enable us to distinguish moral and immoral ones.

Gist of Idea

Mere universalising of maxims doesn't pick out the moral actions

Source

comment on Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by David West - Continental Philosophy: an introduction 3 'Hegelian'

A Reaction

Interesting. Of course, Kant doesn't just say 'universalise your maxim'. He says choose the maxim which can be rationally universalised. That said, it is rational to universalise 'eggs are best boiled for four minutes'.

Book Reference

West,David: 'Continental Philosophy (2nd ed)' [Polity 2010], p.38