HKB
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Often appears with: justice as a virtue · hypothetical imperative · duty, conscience, and obligation · categorical imperative · action from duty
Usually: argument (1)
“action done from duty we must look not to the interest in the object, but only to that in the action itself, and in its rational principle (viz., the law).” Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals · precept
Kant argues that actions done from duty must follow the rational principle of law rather than interest, and introduces the distinction between hypothetical imperatives (means to ends) and categorical imperatives (necessary in themselves).
action done from duty we must look not to the interest in the object, but only to that in the action itself, and in its rational principle (viz., the law). A perfectly good will would therefore be equally subject to objective laws (viz., laws of good), but could not be conceived as obliged thereby to act lawfully, because of itself from its subjective constitution it can only be determined by the conception of good.…