Kant Autonomy of Good Will Through the Categorical Imperativ
Immanuel Kant bases ethics on the autonomy of good will. Kant attempted to figure out the way we act according to our ability for free choice. Autonomy is any act that is done because of our own free choice. Kant views ethics as an intrinsic good rather than and an instrumental good, or as a good that is built-in and is internal. So anything that you do is done because you decide that it can be accounted for publicly as correct or right. According to Kant, certain acts are morally right if they accompanied by good will, and we are morally good only if we act from duty. Acting morally is not enough according to our duty, we must act only because it is our duty. Kant believes that our main goal in thinking is to reason. In reasoning we come up with objective maxims with which we adjust our personal maxims which we intern use. We are able to step outside of a certain situation and act in a way which is a determined way that we ought to act. We need to look at ourselves critically and reflect so we can see ourselves through the views of others. So when considering a certain choice we have to make, we first think of how that choice will look publicly. We then make the choice according to whether it will be accepted or not.
Each one of us has the choice of what we think is moral and there is not a certain set of laws which we base decisions on but our own personal reasoning given we have thought of how it will be conceived publicly and there for by God. They are like legislators in that they act morally so that others will be accountable and respectful and likewise act morally. If something doesn't depend on will but only its existence in nature, and its only worth is to gain some further good is called a "thing. The Categorical Imperative is a device that guides the thought process of a person acting morally. Kant therefore rejects all other attempts at finding other moralities, including those based on utility, or happiness. " However, something that is rational because there are ends in themselves and not used only as means are called "persons. In conclusion, in order to determine whether a certain act is morally good or bad we must, and do, apply Kant's Categorical Imperative. Instead, Kant sees morality as coming from an unconditioned moral law. Kant explains this with what is known as the Categorical Imperative. In this reasoning it is not looking at what can take place from the action but what the certain action is. To Kant, virtue lies in the good will of us rather than any certain end to be achieved, while good will is shown in the performance of an action for the sake of carrying out a duty rather than for some other end. It is also our duty to treat others and not simply as means and therefor we have the right to expect this same treatment from them as well. A maxim is something that is accepted on its own merits and relates to moral law in that one makes choices according to God as right or wrong. These so-called laws are not only the duty of the "legislators" but of everyone. So if we are considering a choice to be publicly accepted we are really considering whether it would be considered right or wrong by God since that is how the public would accept it as right or wrong.
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