Essay On Kant's Categorical Imperative

Immanuel Kant’s impact on Western thought is undoubtedly profound. Being one of the most distinguished figures of the German Idealist movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Kant’s work has set a precedent that, to this day, deeply influences our understanding of ethical discussion, political philosophy, and human cognition. Kant’s multiple contributions still are subject of debate; although, it is his Categorical Imperative that gathers the most attention, discourse, and controversy. Being a reaction to the subjectivity of his era, the Categorical Imperative provides an objective and infallible guideline for universal moral behavior, that stipulates one’s actions should not be dependent on ulterior motives and in consideration that the act itself will become universally accepted, ergo, if one were to steal then one should also be accepting of …show more content…
The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, written on the 4th of July in 1776, contains a clearly objective statement regarding the rights of its [American] citizens. Allocated in the second paragraph of the document, exists a sentence that has remained as the underlying reason for much of the development of American politics, and deeply influence world politics. The sentence reads as follows; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”. It is the phrase “unalienable Rights” that stands out the most and it is the unmeasurably influential, regarding law and politics, in the United States and the world. Hence, it is this phrase that grants the categorical imperative to any citizen that no matter ethnic, religious, or gender background, a person is ensured of his rights for “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of