Just this morning, while reading the morning newspaper, I ran across the term “moral imperative”. I have been thinking a lot recently about the concept of moral imperatives. Immanuel Kant wrote a treatise on that. He also wrote one on The Critique of Pure Reason as well as The Critique of Practical Reason. At some point I was convinced that if I studied philosophy and read such works as those by Immanuel Kant I would be able to discern the moral or categorical imperatives. I would know in the words of Immanuel Kant what actions should be universal law. According to Kant, I could learn to distinguish between hypothetical imperatives and categorical imperatives. I would also be able to learn to distinguish between animal choice and those human choices, which can be determined to actions of pure reason. (Immanuel Kent, Metaphysics of Moral, 6:213-214)
Growing up I listened to adults discuss political decisions and the behavior of other people. I also listened to the teachings of those in the very conservative Southern Baptist Church I attended. Later I would expand to learn more about the teachings of the wider Christian Church as well as about teaching of other religions and philosophies. I would even get a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and learn to read such learned authors as Immanuel Kant in the original German thoroughly convinced that if I read enough and read carefully enough I would learn those actions or rules which “should be obeyed in all circumstances and are justified as an end in itself.” (Immanuel Kant – Metaphysics of Morals.)
I would also expand my reading to Buddhist philosophy and to the attempts of many others learned men and women to discern and articulate the moral imperatives, which would not be swayed by emotion, desire or human emotions.
The goal was to be one of those people who knew for certain what is “right” or “moral” in all circumstances for all people everywhere. Obviously, this is a very worthy goal. Judging by the ongoing wars, terrorists activity, domestic and community violence as well as other ways that we humans mistreat each other and mother earth, we humans certainly needs to figure out how to reach some agreement on the moral imperatives which will allow us to share the resources of this earth. Dear me. I think I just snuck in a moral imperative.
Immanuel Kant says, “Human choice, however, is a choice that can be affected but not determined by impulses, and is therefore of itself (apart from an acquired proficiency of reason) not pure but can still be determined by actions of pure will. (Immanuel Kant, Metaphysics of Moral 6:213-4).
Hypothetical imperatives apply to one wanting to attain an end. I wish to reduce my hunger. I must eat something. A categorical imperative is an end in itself. A categorical imperative, which I posit is: “Treat other with kindness/love irrespective of how the other person acts.” To me this seems a perfectly reasonable goal although not easily achieved. Frequently my emotions affect my actions and I want to react instead of act. I have a difficult time arriving at categorical imperatives. I want to posit love as a categorical imperative but even then it is not clear whether certain actions are loving, enabling or pacifying.
Part of me longs, at times, to be one of those people who are seemingly able to arrive at a long list of absolute rules or absolute truths. Daily I am bombarded by “words of wisdom shared by friends, acquaintances and even strangers on what moral choices one should make today. The problem is, of course, that different people have different lists of rules all purporting to have the same goal of becoming a community or society which functions in a moral or ethical manner.
One of my good friends who have often become frustrated with my opinions about moral imperatives sometimes say, “Just thinks Jim. That is the problem. You do not think.” I really do want to be thought of as a person who thinks rather than as a person with a mind, which just runs amok as a result of my emotions and desires being in charge. Perhaps it is time to do more reading, more praying or more meditation. Perhaps it is time to allow someone else who is wiser than I am to determine what are right or moral choices for me. There seems to be no shortage of kind people who would be more than willing to take on this task and thus save me the agony of attempting to access pure reason untainted by subjective factors. If I could just turn over the responsibility to someone else I would not have to wonder whether I am behaving only on the basis of moral imperatives.
The problem, of course, is that I think too much or I think to little. Which is it? There are certainly many who claim all answers are in the Torah, the Bible, the Quran, or in the preserved words of the Buddha Perhaps if I read Immanuel Kant or Plato or Bertrand Russell one more time I would finally be able to access pure reason and know the moral imperatives which will allow me to be one of those folks who can share such knowledge with others. If they refuse to follow the moral imperatives, which have been revealed, to me I can then pray for them or dam them pending on the moral imperative, which has been revealed to apply in that situation.
Mercy me! Life would be so much simpler if I would quit questioning and analyzing or “just get out of the way” and make a decision as to whose version of moral imperatives I am going to follow. There seems to be at least 18 candidates for president of the United States in 2016 election who would be happy to give me a list of categorical imperatives. I do not, however, have to rely on them. I get numerous emails or Facebook messages from individual who seem very clear about what is moral or right behavior. Sadly I am unable to give any of those individuals carte blanche to determine my thoughts and behavior. Just yesterday a good friend and I agreed that if we just followed the teaching of that Jesus fellow we would know that to do, but then we disagree at times how to apply those teachings to specific situations. That again leaves me in the desert wandering around looing for moral imperatives and questioning, questioning, questioning. If I do take the risk of positing what seems to me to be the result of pure reason – what seems to be common sense even – I can be sure that many are ready to tell me how very wrong I am.
My poor brain is tried and, yet, there seems no option than to continue to question and to even question my questions. In the meantime I will sincerely attempt to not allow my emotions to determine the imperatives, which guide my actions. On the other hand, I must decide if the seeming dictates of my heart are to be counted as emotional input. Please do excuse me. I must got lie down and rest this poor, overworked brain. I do believe it is a moral imperative to shut up and rest my brain!
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