categorical imperative

English

Etymology

From German kategorischer Imperativ.

Noun

categorical imperative (plural categorical imperatives)

1. (ethics) A fundamental ethical principle intended as a guide for determining whether any contemplated action is morally right, based on the concept that an action is good or bad in and of itself regardless of what the actor's aims or preferences are.

Translations

fundamental ethical principle

• Czech: kategorický imperativ m
• French: impératif catégorique m
• German: kategorischer Imperativ (de) m, categorischer Imperativ m
• Portuguese: imperativo categórico m
• Romanian: imperativ categoric (ro) n

See also

• deontology
• golden rule
• hypothetical imperative
• moral imperative
• Ten Commandments