Hypothetical imperative

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Immanuel Kant
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Critique of Pure Reason Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics "Answering the Question: What is Enlightenment?" Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals Critique of Practical Reason Critique of Judgment Religion within the Bounds of Bare Reason Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch The Metaphysics of Morals
Kantianism Kantian ethics
Transcendental idealism Critical philosophy Sapere aude Schema A priori and a posteriori Analytic–synthetic distinction Noumenon Categories Categorical imperative Hypothetical imperative "Kingdom of Ends" Political philosophy
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George Berkeley René Descartes J. G. Fichte F. H. Jacobi G. W. F. Hegel David Hume Arthur Schopenhauer Baruch Spinoza African Spir Johannes Tetens
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Schopenhauer's criticism German idealism Neo-Kantianism

A hypothetical imperative is a commandment of reason that applies only conditionally.

Kant divides hypothetical imperatives into two subcategories: the rules of skill and the counsels of prudence. The rules of skill are conditional and are specific to each and every person to which the skill is mandated by. The counsels of prudence (or rules of prudence) are attained a priori (unlike the rules of skill which are attained via experience, or a posteriori) and have universal goals such as happiness. Thus, almost any moral "rule" about how to act is hypothetical, because it assumes that your goal is to be moral, or to be happy, or to please God, etc. The only non-hypothetical imperatives are ones which tell you to do something no matter who you are or what you want, because the thing is good in itself.

Hypothetical imperatives tell us how to act in order to achieve a specific goal, e.g. I must study to get a degree.

See also

• Akrasia
• Categorical imperative

References

• Immanuel Kant, Critique of Practical Reason, Part 1, Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 1: Definition.

External links

• Hypothetical Imperatives