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Maxim, proverb, gnome, aphorism, apothegm, sententia―all of these terms mean essentially the same thing: a short, easily remembered expression of a basic principle, general truth or rule of conduct. Think of a maxim as a nugget of wisdom―or at least of apparent wisdom. Maxims are universal and testify to the commonality of human existence.
I'm taking a two year course on philosophy and ethics. At the moment, we're studying Kantian ethics. I understand Kant's theory of "act by a maxim that you would want universalized" and the three steps to see whether a maxim can become a categorical imperative, such as universalization, seeing humans as an ends mean and kingdom of means.
A few lines later, Kant says that this is equivalent to acting as though your maxim were by your will to become a law of nature, and he uses this latter formulation in his examples of how the imperative is to be applied. Elsewhere, Kant specifies that the test is whether you could will the universalization for a system of nature “of which you ...
- Christine M. Korsgaard
- 1985
Mar 6, 2023 · When deciding which course of action to take, you should imagine that the maxim which guides your action is a universal law, which governs all rational agents. All such agents must act as you do. When attempting to universalise a maxim, and finding that it is inconceivable that it could be a universal law, the result is a perfect duty.
In the Groundwork, Kant uses the term ‘maxim’ several times before he provides the following note: ‘A maxim is the subjective principle of willing; the objective principle … is the practical law’ (G, 4: 400 n*, p.16). Beyond connecting maxims to acts of willing and contrasting their subjectivity to the objectivity of practical laws ...
Example #8: Maxims (By La Rochefoucauld) “The world more often rewards the appearance of merit than merit itself.”. “It is a great ability to be able to conceal one’s ability.”. “We like to judge others, but we do not like to be judged ourselves.”. La Rochefoucauld has written many books on maxims and proverbs.
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A maxim is a general rule or principle that serves as a guide for action, particularly in the context of moral philosophy. In ethical discussions, especially those influenced by Kant, maxims are the subjective principles that individuals adopt when making decisions, reflecting their intentions behind actions. Understanding maxims is crucial for evaluating whether an action can be universalized ...
