Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Summary | Chapterly
Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant: A Complete Summary "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." Overview Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) is Immanuel Kant's attempt to identify the supreme principle of morality — the fundamental rule from which all moral obligations derive. In roughly 80 pages, Kant constructs one of the most influential and debated ethical theories in the history of philosophy. Kant argues that morality is not based on consequences (what happens as a result of your action), not on feelings (what makes you happy or uncomfortable), and not on divine command (what God tells you to do). Instead, morality is grounded in reason itself. The moral law is a law that any rational being can discover through pure thought and must obey simply because it is rational. The centerpiece of Kant's ethics is the categorical imperative — a principle that commands unconditionally, regardless of your desires or circumstances. Its most famous formulation: "Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." In other words:...