Kantian Ethics, Categorical Imperative: Real World Example

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher when proposed the idea that the rightness or wrongness of our actions doesn't depend on their consequences, but on the fulfillment of duty. Kant believe in the principle of morality, which he referred to as The Categorical Imperative. The Categorical Imperative determines what our moral duties are in terms of how one person believes everyone in that situation would act.

For example; a husband agrees to go on a date with a female colleague from his work. The husband has been having a rough spot in his marriage and hasn't been on a date in years. The colleague wants to continue their relationship. The opposing forces in this situation are; the husband's desire to continue a relationship with his colleague, and the husband's duty to his wife. Kant would determine the Categorical Imperative of this situation to be to discontinue his relationship with his colleague and uphold the sanctity of marriage. Because, this is what everyone should do.

Cheating