categorical imperative

the moral directive articulated by Immanuel Kant that one’s behavior should be guided by maxims that one would be comfortable to hold as universal laws governing the actions of all people in the same circumstances. Because it is absolute and unconditional, the categorical imperative contrasts with a hypothetical imperative of the type “If you would achieve end Y, take action Z.” The categorical imperative has been extremely influential in moral philosophy and in theories of moral behavior in psychology. See also universalizability.

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Psychology term of the day

January 30th 2025

Alström–Hallgren syndrome

a familial disorder that is characterized by obesity, deafness, visual disorders, and diabetes and occasionally associated with mental disorders. [Carl-Henry Alström (1907–1993), Swedish physician; Bertil Hallgren, 20th-century Swedish geneticist]