Short Essay
Part 1
The categorical imperative is an imperative of morality and testing rules. The concept was introduced by Immanuel Kant, the founder of critical philosophy, in 1785 and dictates that one should consider the moral principle on which they are acting. According to Kant, it is absolute and is a significant measure of whether an action is ethically acceptable (Ghosh & Long, 2015).
Examples of categorical imperatives I believe in include, wearing warm clothes when it’s cold outside, drinking water when I am thirsty and going to the hospital to receive treatment when I am sick. It’s important for me and other individuals to adhere to these imperatives because they are the foundation of moral and ethical principles of everyday life, and they are fundamental for survival and leading better lives.
Most people would agree with my opinion about these categorical imperatives mainly because they comply with the basic ethical considerations and responsibilities bound to our daily lives.
Reference
Ghosh, A., & Long, N. (2015). Kant’s Rule of Behavior and Kant-Nash Equilibria in Games of Contributions to Public Goods. Munich: CESifo GmbH.
Part 2
Natural law is a theory or system of law established in claims of nature or allegedly controlled by nature. This system is derived from an act of natural instincts in the mind (MacKinnon & Fiala, 2014).
For example, when children are misbehaving or engaging in delinquency, the natural inclination of the parents is to correct them because they feel morally responsible for the actions of these children. I remember my parents disciplinary actions so vividly whenever I did something wrong, and the disciplinary helped me become a better person.
Some time back, my friend was caught cheating on his girlfriend with another lady, and it broke him after the girl left the relationship. He felt so guilty about it and asked for forgiveness. Men and women who commit adultery in society are morally conscious of this act, mainly because it has been known to be sinful and is also listed in the Bible as grounds to divorce a cheating spouse.
Another example would be the natural instinct to alleviate pain and suffering of human beings or animals. I remember this time when I adopted a stray and hungry dog and brought it home. The dog was almost dying, and I felt pity for it. I fed it, then carried it home, and after a couple of months of taking it to the vet and providing food and shelter, it started gaining back its health. It now lives with us at home.
My reasoning for applying this natural law is that people have the basic instinct to differentiate right from wrong, and judge accordingly whether to do good or evil. God gave us that unique ability, and we should use it to perform by the required moral principles.
Many people would agree with the decision to adopt the stray dog and show compassion because everyone deserves it, including animals. The desire to live is instilled in every creation of nature, but some may be lacking in sufficient resources to fulfil this desire. As such, rekindling the dog’s hope to live and have an owner is profoundly humane, and I thank God that I was able to rescue him when he needed me. Frido is now a very loyal and faithful friend to the family and me.
Reference
MacKinnon, B., & Fiala, A. (2014). Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues (8th ed.). Wadsworth Publishing.
