释义 |
categorical imperative noun[ C ] social science specializeduk /kæt.əˌɡɒr.ɪ.kəl ɪmˈper.ə.tɪv/ us /ˈkæt̬.əˌɡɔːr.ɪ.kəl ɪmˈper.ə.t̬ɪv/ a moral rule that everyone must always obey, even if they do not want to: An action that disobeys a categorical imperative is straightforwardly and unambiguously bad. If a rule is a categorical imperative, we cannot make ourselves exceptions to it. Kant regards these laws as categorical imperatives, which apply to everyone unconditionally. How can anybody know what the categorical imperatives that apply to them are? Some virtues do not derive from the categorical imperative, but are essentially prudential. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Morality and rules of behaviour antisocial antisocially baseness biocentric bioethicist claim ethical ethically ethicist ethos honour liberty moral motto principled propriety rule-based savoury script the rights and wrongsidiom |