Kant's Catergorical Imperative

      The categorical imperative can be expressed by three different formulas: 1) The
Formula of the End in Itself. 2) The Formula of Autonomy and 3) The Formula of the
Kingdom of Ends.
      The Formula of the End in Itself is the practical imperative to, "Act in such a way
that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other,
never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end." (AK67) This means that
you should not do something simply for the consequence it will bring, but as an end in
itself.
      The Formula of Autonomy is, "the Idea of the will of every rational being as a
will which makes universal law." (AK 71) Because of this, what one person believes to be
truly moral becomes a universal law, which is then the only law which that person will
have to follow.
      The Formula of the Kingdom of Ends is "that the will can regard itself as at the
same time making universal law by means of its maxim." (AK 76) That is, when any
person acts by their own maxim, the are at the same time making a universal law.
      Each of these three formulas express the same principle because each one contains
a combination of the other two in it. But, each is slightly different and is meant to bring
the basic idea closer to our understanding. (AK 80)

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