Maxims

Abstract

Kant is the only important Western philosopher who makes the notion, or notions, of maxim a central feature of moral theory. A notion of maxim appears, for example, in the principle of the universality of nature (PUN). “Act as if the maxim of your action wereito become through your will a universal law of nature” (Gr. 421). This is the chief (and perhaps the sole) principle which Kant actually uses for judging the Tightness of actions, that is, for judging whether actions do or do not “conform to duty.” Actions which do conform to duty are said to be lawful (gesetzmässig), and they are so judged because the maxims of such actions can be willed to be universal laws of nature. Actions which do not conform to duty are said to be unlawful (gesetzwidrig), and they are so judged, of course, because the maxims of these actions cannot be willed to be universal laws of nature. In order to judge the Tightness of actions, then, one must have recourse to the maxims of actions; mere consideration of the actions themselves is not sufficient for such judgment. Secondly, since it is the maxim (of some sort) which alone has or lacks “moral content” (e.g., ibid., 397–98) — to which there correspond actions having or lacking “moral worth” — Kant’s theory of moral value also depends on a notion of maxim. Undeniably, then, maxims play a crucially significant role in Kant’s moral philosophy. Without an understanding of that role, or actually, of those roles, one is simply not prepared to examine critically Kantian ethics.KeywordsActional MaximMoral WorthCategorical ImperativeMajor PremiseMoral ContentThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.