Final answer:
Immanuel Kant held that the Categorical Imperative, which is our moral duty as dictated by universal law, should be followed regardless of personal consequences, including unhappiness. It is the expression of good will and reason, and it is not dependent on personal desires or outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant posited that our moral obligations derive from what he called the Categorical Imperative, which is a universal law that dictates our duties based on reason, and not on personal desires or outcomes including happiness. Kant argued that following the Categorical Imperative is an expression of one's good will, which holds unconditional value. He made it clear that actions are not morally good because of their consequences, but because of the will that drives them. Kant's ethical system emphasizes that we should act according to maxims we would will to become universal laws, irrespective of personal inclinations or consequences, including whether or not it would make us unhappy.
For Kant, moral actions are dictated by duty and should be applicable to all rational beings; they are not to be circumvented for personal gain, comfort, or happiness. Therefore, in Kant's view, one should still obey the Categorical Imperative even if doing so would result in personal unhappiness.