Final answer:
Kant claimed that moral rules are objective and universal because they can be derived from reason alone, exemplified by his categorical imperative, which demands that actions be acceptable as universal laws. These principles apply to all rational beings and are known a priori. Moral laws like perfect and imperfect duties are identified through reason, which are essential for societal progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immanuel Kant asserted that moral rules are objective and universal based on the capacity of human reason. Kant's famous categorical imperative provides a framework for this assertion: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law.” This principle maintains that if a rule cannot be applied universally to all rational beings, it cannot be considered moral. For example, lying cannot be universalized because if everyone lied, trust would erode, and communication would fail. Hence, an action is moral if every rational individual can, without contradiction, accept it as a universal law.
Kant believed that these principles are discovered a priori, meaning they can be known through reason alone without empirical experience. Moreover, these moral laws apply to everyone regardless of their personal desires or societal norms. This is delineated by his distinction between hypothetical imperatives, which are contingent on personal goals, and categorical imperatives, which are absolute and must be followed irrespective of one's objectives or the situation.
Perfect duties, which are absolute, such as not to lie or murder, and imperfect duties, which allow for some discretion, emerge from this deontological ethical framework. By using reason, individuals can ascertain which actions are ethically permissible, thus progressing towards an improved society founded on universally accepted moral principles.