What is one formulation of Kant’s categorical imperative?

An eye for an eye.
Always act in such a way that you promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Treat others as you would want to be treated.
Do good to others with hate in your heart.
Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end.

Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end.

One formulation of Kant's categorical imperative is "Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end."

One formulation of Kant's categorical imperative is: "Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end." This formulation emphasizes the importance of recognizing the intrinsic value and dignity of every individual, and it prohibits using others as mere tools for our personal gain or objectives.

To arrive at this formulation, Kant developed his moral philosophy based on the concept of reason and rationality. He believed that morality should be derived from a principle that is universally applicable and based on reason alone, rather than on subjective desires or external factors. This principle is known as the categorical imperative.

To understand how Kant arrived at this formulation, we can look at the process he used to construct it. Kant believed that morally right actions must be guided by principles that apply to every rational being in any given situation. He proposed the following process to determine the moral permissibility of an action:

1. Universalizability Test: "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." In simpler terms, this means that the principle of an action should be able to be applicable to everyone without contradiction. If an action's maxim (the principle or rule behind the action) can be rationally willed as a universal law, it passes the test.

2. Respect for Persons: "Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end." This formulation emphasizes the importance of treating individuals as ends in themselves, not as mere means to achieve personal goals. It requires recognizing and respecting the autonomy and dignity of others.

Applying these two principles, Kant arrived at the formulation: "Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end." This formulation exemplifies the fundamental principle of respect for humanity and the imperative to recognize the equal worth of all individuals.

It is important to note that while this is one formulation of Kant's categorical imperative, he also developed other formulations to express this ethical principle in different contexts.