Abstract

Kant's general term 'categorical imperative' conceals two substantially different ethical principles namely (1) "the" fundamental principle of moral argumentation, called by kant "the principle of pure practical reason", and (2) "a" (one or more than one) procedure for testing maxims and norms for acting. this thesis of the two different functions of the categorical imperative is proved by a detailed systematic analysis of both kant's different formulas of the categorical imperative and kant's examination of four maxims in the "grundlegung"