Final answer:
A categorical imperative means that the moral law applies universally to all rational agents and must be obeyed in all situations. Immanuel Kant introduced this concept, emphasizing that moral action must be universalizable and never use people merely as a means to an end.
Step-by-step explanation:
For an imperative to be categorical means it applies to everyone in all situations, unlike the hypothetical imperative, which is conditional and applies only if one wishes to achieve a specific goal. Immanuel Kant, the Enlightenment philosopher, introduced the concept of the categorical imperative which is derived from reason and is a moral duty all rational agents must follow. According to Kant, categorical imperatives are the universal laws that we must obey regardless of our desires or personal inclinations.
Kant's categorical imperative is famous for its universal law formulation: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law." This means an action is moral if it can be considered as a principle that could apply universally to all rational beings. By adhering to this standard, we maintain justice and fairness as we never treat people merely as a means to an end but respect them as ends in themselves. Kant suggested that we use this as a standard to test whether our actions conform to rationality and thus moral law.
A major aspect of the categorical imperative is the notion of universalizability, where one's actions should be consistent with a world where everyone acts on the same maxim. Kant posited that if an action can't be universalized, it should not be carried out. Moreover, he believed that rational beings instinctively recognize this duty and moral law.