Moral imperative

Moral imperative

A moral imperative is a principle originating inside a person's mind that compels that person to act. It is a kind of categorical imperative, as defined by Immanuel Kant. Kant took the imperative to be a dictate of pure reason, in its practical aspect. Not following the moral law was seen to be self-defeating and thus contrary to reason. Later thinkers took the imperative to originate in conscience, as the divine voice speaking through the human spirit. The dictates of conscience are simply right and often resist further justification. Looked at another way, the experience of conscience is the basic experience of encountering the right.

See also

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  • moral imperative — UK US noun [countable] [singular moral imperative plural moral imperatives] something that must happen because it is the right thing Tackling the issue of poverty is a moral imperative. Thesaurus: morally good or correc …   Useful english dictionary

  • moral imperative — moral im perative noun count something that must happen because it is the right thing: Tackling the issue of poverty is a moral imperative …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • moral imperative — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms moral imperative : singular moral imperative plural moral imperatives something that must happen because it is the right thing Tackling the issue of poverty is a moral imperative …   English dictionary

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  • Imperative — can mean: *Imperative mood, a grammatical mood expressing commands, direct requests, and prohibitions *Imperative programming, a programming paradigm in computer science *Moral imperative, a philosophical concept relating to obligation …   Wikipedia

  • imperative — I adj. 1) imperative to + inf. (it is imperative to act now) 2) imperative that + clause; subj. (it is imperative that you be/should be present) II n. 1) a moral imperative 2) an imperative that + clause; subj. (it is a moral imperative that no… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • imperative — im|per|a|tive1 [ ım perətıv ] adjective 1. ) FORMAL extremely important and urgent: Long term investing is risky, and careful planning is imperative. it is imperative (that): It is imperative that these claims are dealt with quickly. it is… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • imperative — I UK [ɪmˈperətɪv] / US adjective 1) formal extremely important and urgent Long term investing is risky, and careful planning is imperative. it is imperative (that): It is imperative that these claims are dealt with quickly. it is imperative to do …   English dictionary

  • imperative — im|per|a|tive1 [ımˈperətıv] adj [Date: 1400 1500; : Late Latin; Origin: imperativus, from Latin imperatus, past participle of imperare to command ] 1.) extremely important and needing to be done or dealt with immediately ▪ It is imperative that… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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