Categorical imperative

/ˌkætəˈɡɔrɪkəl ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/ noun

Definition

Kant's fundamental principle of ethics stating that moral actions must be based on principles that could become universal laws. It commands unconditionally, regardless of personal desires or consequences.

Etymology

From Latin 'categoricus' (absolute, unconditional) and 'imperativus' (commanding). Kant coined this term in the 18th century to distinguish absolute moral commands from conditional ones.

Kelly Says

This is the philosophical equivalent of asking 'What if everyone did that?' before every moral decision. Kant believed this simple test could solve all ethical dilemmas by forcing us to think beyond our selfish interests to what would work for everyone.

Translations

AMአማርኛ
ካታጎሪ አዕራፍ
kah-tah-GOH-ree ā-er-af
ARالعربية
المرءية القطعية
al-mar-ee-ah al-qah-tee-ah
BNবাংলা
বিভাগীয় নির্দেশ
bibhagiy nirdesh
CACatalà
imperatiu categòric
eem-peh-rah-TEE-v kah-teh-GOH-rick
CSČeština
kategorický imperativ
kah-teh-GOH-ree-kee eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
DADansk
kategoriisk imperativ
kah-teh-GOH-ree-esk eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
DEDeutsch
kategorischer Imperativ
kah-teh-GOH-rish-er eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
ELΕλληνικά
κατηγορικός императив
kah-teh-GOH-ree-kohs eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
ESEspañol
imperativo categórico
eem-peh-rah-TEE-voh kah-teh-GOH-ree-koh
FAفارسی
دسته ای命令
dastei eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
FISuomi
kategorinen imperatiivi
kah-teh-GOH-ree-nen eem-peh-rah-TEE-vee
FRFrançais
impératif catégorique
eem-peh-rah-TEE-voh kah-teh-goh-REEK
GUGU
વર્ગીકૃત આજ્ઞા
vargīkṛt ājñā
HAHA
imperatif kategorik
eem-peh-rah-TEE-v kah-teh-GOH-rick
HEעברית
אימפרטיב קטגורי
eem-peh-rah-TEE-v kah-teh-GOH-ree
HIहिन्दी
श्रेणीवाचक निर्देश
shreṇīvāchak nirdesh
HUMagyar
kategórikus imperatív
kah-teh-GOH-ree-kush eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
IDBahasa Indonesia
imperatif kategoris
eem-peh-rah-TEE-voh kah-teh-GOH-ris
IGIG
kategorị ịmị
kah-teh-GOH-ree eem-ee
ITItaliano
imperativo categorico
eem-peh-rah-TEE-voh kah-teh-GOH-ree-koh
JA日本語
カテゴリカル・インペラティブ
kah-teh-goh-ruh-kah-ru eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
KKKK
категориялық императив
kah-teh-GOH-ree-ah-lek eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
KMKM
ប្រភេទបញ្ជា
prabheat banh-cha
KO한국어
범주적 명령
beom-joo-jeok myeong-ryeong
MRMR
वर्गवारी आज्ञा
vargavārī ājñā
MSBahasa Melayu
imperatif kategorik
eem-peh-rah-TEE-v kah-teh-GOH-rick
MYမြန်မာ
အမျိုးအစား အမိန့်
a-myoe-a-sar a-mein
NLNederlands
categorisch imperatief
kah-teh-GOH-rish eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
NONorsk
kategoriisk imperativ
kah-teh-GOH-ree-esk eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
PAPA
ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀਵਾਚਕ ਹੁਕਮ
shreṇīvāchak hukam
PLPolski
imperatyw kategoryczny
eem-peh-rah-TEE-v kah-teh-GOH-ree-chneh
PTPortuguês
imperativo categórico
eem-peh-rah-TEE-voh kah-teh-GOH-ree-koh
RORomână
imperativ categoric
eem-peh-rah-TEE-v kah-teh-GOH-rick
RUРусский
категорический императив
kah-teh-GOH-ree-chekiy eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
SVSvenska
kategoriiskt imperativ
kah-teh-GOH-ree-esk eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
SWKiswahili
imperativu ya kategoria
eem-peh-rah-TEE-vu ya kah-teh-GOH-ree-ah
TAதமிழ்
வகைப்பாட்டு ஆணை
vagai-paṭṭu āṇai
TEతెలుగు
వర్గీకరణ ఆజ్ఞ
vargīkaraṇa ājña
THไทย
คำสั่งโดยหมวดหมู่
kham sang doy muat muu
TLTL
imperatibong kategorya
eem-peh-rah-TEE-vong kah-teh-GOH-ryah
TRTürkçe
kategorik imperatif
kah-teh-GOH-rick eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
UKУкраїнська
категоричний імператив
kah-teh-GOH-ree-chy eem-peh-rah-TEE-v
URاردو
زمرہ جاتی حکم
zamrah jati hukm
VITiếng Việt
lệnh thể loại
lehn theh loai
YOYO
kátẹ́ẹ́gọ́rì àṣẹ
kah-teh-GOH-ree ah-sheh
ZH中文
范畴命令
fàn chǒu mìng lìng
ZUZU
ikategori ikomando
ee-kah-teh-GOH-ree ee-koh-mahndoh

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