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Kantian philosophy outlines the Universal Law Formation of the Categorical Imperative as a method for determining morality of actions. ... First, one creates a maxim and considers whether the maxim could be a universal law for all rational beings. Second, one determines whether rational beings would will it to be a universal law. ... The maxim "when answering a widows inquiry as to the nature and duration of her late husbands death, one should always tell the truth regarding the nature of her late husbands death" (M1) passes both parts of the Universal Law Formation of the Categorical Imperative. ... The initial stage of the Universal Law Formation of the Categorical Imperative requires that a maxim be universally applicable to all rational beings. ... The second requirement is that a rational being would will this maxim to become a universal law. ... If telling the widow the truth drives her to commit suicide, it seems like no rational being would will the maxim to become a universal law. ... The suicide has no bearing, at least for the Categorical Imperative, on whether telling the truth is moral or not. ... To decide whether rational being would will a maxim to become a law, the maxim itself must be examined rationally and not its consequences. ... " Applying the first part of the Universal Law Formation of the Categorical Imperative, it appears that this maxim is a moral act. Certainly, a universal law that prevents the feelings of people who are already in pain from being hurt further seems like an excellent universal law. ... For instance circumstances may change and the people who were originally included in the universal law, may not be included anymore. Consequently you many not want to will your maxim to be a universal law. ... One must ask if rational beings would really will such a world in which there would be many, many specific, but universal, laws.
Approximate Word count = 1530
Approximate Pages = 6.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
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