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Kantian ethics

Theme three: universalizability

    Act only on universalizable maxims.

    • A maxim is an explicitly stated principle of practical reason. A fully stated maxim would include:

      1. a statement of the goal you propose to achieve,

      2. a description of the action by which you propose to achieve it, and

      3. a statement of the circumstances under which acting that way will help you to achieve your goal.

    • A maxim is universalizable if and only if you could effectively achieve your goal by acting on it in a world where everyone else was pursuing the same goal by acting similarly in similar circumstances.

    Note: This characterization of Kant's universalizability test is based on Marcus Singer's analysis of it in Generalization in Ethics (Alfred Knopf, 1961)).

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