effects¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡ends¡¡and¡¡springs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡will£»¡¡cannot¡¡give¡¡to
actions¡¡any¡¡unconditional¡¡or¡¡moral¡¡worth¡£¡¡In¡¡what£»¡¡then£»¡¡can¡¡their
worth¡¡lie£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡consist¡¡in¡¡the¡¡will¡¡and¡¡in¡¡reference¡¡to¡¡its
expected¡¡effect£¿¡¡It¡¡cannot¡¡lie¡¡anywhere¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡the
will¡¡without¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡which¡¡can¡¡be¡¡attained¡¡by¡¡the¡¡action¡£
For¡¡the¡¡will¡¡stands¡¡between¡¡its¡¡a¡¡priori¡¡principle£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡formal£»
and¡¡its¡¡a¡¡posteriori¡¡spring£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡material£»¡¡as¡¡between¡¡two
roads£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡determined¡¡by¡¡something£»¡¡it¡¡that¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be
determined¡¡by¡¡the¡¡formal¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡volition¡¡when¡¡an¡¡action¡¡is
done¡¡from¡¡duty£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡case¡¡every¡¡material¡¡principle¡¡has¡¡been
withdrawn¡¡from¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡third¡¡proposition£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡a¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two
preceding£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡express¡¡thus¡¡Duty¡¡is¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡acting¡¡from
respect¡¡for¡¡the¡¡law¡£¡¡I¡¡may¡¡have¡¡inclination¡¡for¡¡an¡¡object¡¡as¡¡the
effect¡¡of¡¡my¡¡proposed¡¡action£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡have¡¡respect¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡just
for¡¡this¡¡reason£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡an¡¡effect¡¡and¡¡not¡¡an¡¡energy¡¡of¡¡will¡£
Similarly¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡have¡¡respect¡¡for¡¡inclination£»¡¡whether¡¡my¡¡own¡¡or
another's£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡at¡¡most£»¡¡if¡¡my¡¡own£»¡¡approve¡¡it£»¡¡if¡¡another's£»
sometimes¡¡even¡¡love¡¡it£»¡¡i¡£e¡££»¡¡look¡¡on¡¡it¡¡as¡¡favourable¡¡to¡¡my¡¡own
interest¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡only¡¡what¡¡is¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡my¡¡will¡¡as¡¡a¡¡principle£»¡¡by
no¡¡means¡¡as¡¡an¡¡effect¡¡¡what¡¡does¡¡not¡¡subserve¡¡my¡¡inclination£»¡¡but
overpowers¡¡it£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡in¡¡case¡¡of¡¡choice¡¡excludes¡¡it¡¡from¡¡its
calculation¡¡¡in¡¡other¡¡words£»¡¡simply¡¡the¡¡law¡¡of¡¡itself£»¡¡which¡¡can¡¡be¡¡an
object¡¡of¡¡respect£»¡¡and¡¡hence¡¡a¡¡command¡£¡¡Now¡¡an¡¡action¡¡done¡¡from¡¡duty
must¡¡wholly¡¡exclude¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡inclination¡¡and¡¡with¡¡it¡¡every
object¡¡of¡¡the¡¡will£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡remains¡¡which¡¡can¡¡determine¡¡the
will¡¡except¡¡objectively¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡and¡¡subjectively¡¡pure¡¡respect¡¡for
this¡¡practical¡¡law£»¡¡and¡¡consequently¡¡the¡¡maxim*¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡follow
this¡¡law¡¡even¡¡to¡¡the¡¡thwarting¡¡of¡¡all¡¡my¡¡inclinations¡£
¡¡¡¡*A¡¡maxim¡¡is¡¡the¡¡subjective¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡volition¡£¡¡The¡¡objective
principle¡¡£¨i¡£e¡££»¡¡that¡¡which¡¡would¡¡also¡¡serve¡¡subjectively¡¡as¡¡a
practical¡¡principle¡¡to¡¡all¡¡rational¡¡beings¡¡if¡¡reason¡¡had¡¡full¡¡power
over¡¡the¡¡faculty¡¡of¡¡desire£©¡¡is¡¡the¡¡practical¡¡law¡£
¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡the¡¡moral¡¡worth¡¡of¡¡an¡¡action¡¡does¡¡not¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡effect
expected¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡nor¡¡in¡¡any¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡action¡¡which¡¡requires¡¡to
borrow¡¡its¡¡motive¡¡from¡¡this¡¡expected¡¡effect¡£¡¡For¡¡all¡¡these¡¡effects¡
agreeableness¡¡of¡¡one's¡¡condition¡¡and¡¡even¡¡the¡¡promotion¡¡of¡¡the
happiness¡¡of¡¡others¡¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡also¡¡brought¡¡about¡¡by¡¡other
causes£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡for¡¡this¡¡there¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡no¡¡need¡¡of¡¡the¡¡will
of¡¡a¡¡rational¡¡being£»¡¡whereas¡¡it¡¡is¡¡in¡¡this¡¡alone¡¡that¡¡the¡¡supreme
and¡¡unconditional¡¡good¡¡can¡¡be¡¡found¡£¡¡The¡¡pre¡eminent¡¡good¡¡which¡¡we
call¡¡moral¡¡can¡¡therefore¡¡consist¡¡in¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡than¡¡the¡¡conception
of¡¡law¡¡in¡¡itself£»¡¡which¡¡certainly¡¡is¡¡only¡¡possible¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rational
being£»¡¡in¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡this¡¡conception£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡the¡¡expected¡¡effect£»
determines¡¡the¡¡will¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡a¡¡good¡¡which¡¡is¡¡already¡¡present¡¡in¡¡the
person¡¡who¡¡acts¡¡accordingly£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡have¡¡not¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡it¡¡to
appear¡¡first¡¡in¡¡the¡¡result¡£*
¡¡¡¡*It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡here¡¡objected¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡take¡¡refuge¡¡behind¡¡the
word¡¡respect¡¡in¡¡an¡¡obscure¡¡feeling£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡giving¡¡a¡¡distinct
solution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡question¡¡by¡¡a¡¡concept¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reason¡£¡¡But¡¡although
respect¡¡is¡¡a¡¡feeling£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡received¡¡through
influence£»¡¡but¡¡is¡¡self¡wrought¡¡by¡¡a¡¡rational¡¡concept£»¡¡and£»
therefore£»¡¡is¡¡specifically¡¡distinct¡¡from¡¡all¡¡feelings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡former
kind£»¡¡which¡¡may¡¡be¡¡referred¡¡either¡¡to¡¡inclination¡¡or¡¡fear£»¡¡What¡¡I
recognise¡¡immediately¡¡as¡¡a¡¡law¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡recognise¡¡with¡¡respect¡£
This¡¡merely¡¡signifies¡¡the¡¡consciousness¡¡that¡¡my¡¡will¡¡is¡¡subordinate¡¡to
a¡¡law£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡intervention¡¡of¡¡other¡¡influences¡¡on¡¡my¡¡sense¡£¡¡The
immediate¡¡determination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡will¡¡by¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡and¡¡the
consciousness¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡is¡¡called¡¡respect£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡this¡¡is¡¡regarded
as¡¡an¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡as¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡it¡£
Respect¡¡is¡¡properly¡¡the¡¡conception¡¡of¡¡a¡¡worth¡¡which¡¡thwarts¡¡my
self¡love¡£¡¡Accordingly¡¡it¡¡is¡¡something¡¡which¡¡is¡¡considered¡¡neither
as¡¡an¡¡object¡¡of¡¡inclination¡¡nor¡¡of¡¡fear£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡has¡¡something
analogous¡¡to¡¡both¡£¡¡The¡¡object¡¡of¡¡respect¡¡is¡¡the¡¡law¡¡only£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the
law¡¡which¡¡we¡¡impose¡¡on¡¡ourselves¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡recognise¡¡as¡¡necessary¡¡in
itself¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡law£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡subjected¡¡too¡¡it¡¡without¡¡consulting
self¡love£»¡¡as¡¡imposed¡¡by¡¡us¡¡on¡¡ourselves£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡result¡¡of¡¡our
will¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡former¡¡aspect¡¡it¡¡has¡¡an¡¡analogy¡¡to¡¡fear£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡to
inclination¡£¡¡Respect¡¡for¡¡a¡¡person¡¡is¡¡properly¡¡only¡¡respect¡¡for¡¡the¡¡law
£¨of¡¡honesty£»¡¡etc¡££©¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡gives¡¡us¡¡an¡¡example¡£¡¡Since¡¡we¡¡also¡¡look
on¡¡the¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡our¡¡talents¡¡as¡¡a¡¡duty£»¡¡we¡¡consider¡¡that¡¡we¡¡see
in¡¡a¡¡person¡¡of¡¡talents£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were£»¡¡the¡¡example¡¡of¡¡a¡¡law¡¡£¨viz¡££»¡¡to
become¡¡like¡¡him¡¡in¡¡this¡¡by¡¡exercise£©£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡constitutes¡¡our
respect¡£¡¡All¡¡so¡called¡¡moral¡¡interest¡¡consists¡¡simply¡¡in¡¡respect¡¡for
the¡¡law¡£
¡¡¡¡But¡¡what¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡law¡¡can¡¡that¡¡be£»¡¡the¡¡conception¡¡of¡¡which¡¡must
determine¡¡the¡¡will£»¡¡even¡¡without¡¡paying¡¡any¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡effect
expected¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡this¡¡will¡¡may¡¡be¡¡called¡¡good
absolutely¡¡and¡¡without¡¡qualification£¿¡¡As¡¡I¡¡have¡¡deprived¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of
every¡¡impulse¡¡which¡¡could¡¡arise¡¡to¡¡it¡¡from¡¡obedience¡¡to¡¡any¡¡law£»¡¡there
remains¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡universal¡¡conformity¡¡of¡¡its¡¡actions¡¡to¡¡law
in¡¡general£»¡¡which¡¡alone¡¡is¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡will¡¡as¡¡a¡¡principle£»¡¡i¡£e¡££»¡¡I
am¡¡never¡¡to¡¡act¡¡otherwise¡¡than¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡also¡¡will¡¡that¡¡my¡¡maxim
should¡¡become¡¡a¡¡universal¡¡law¡£¡¡Here£»¡¡now£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡simple
conformity¡¡to¡¡law¡¡in¡¡general£»¡¡without¡¡assuming¡¡any¡¡particular¡¡law
applicable¡¡to¡¡certain¡¡actions£»¡¡that¡¡serves¡¡the¡¡will¡¡as¡¡its¡¡principle
and¡¡must¡¡so¡¡serve¡¡it£»¡¡if¡¡duty¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡vain¡¡delusion¡¡and¡¡a
chimerical¡¡notion¡£¡¡The¡¡common¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡men¡¡in¡¡its¡¡practical
judgements¡¡perfectly¡¡coincides¡¡with¡¡this¡¡and¡¡always¡¡has¡¡in¡¡view¡¡the
principle¡¡here¡¡suggested¡£¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡question¡¡be£»¡¡for¡¡example£º¡¡May¡¡I¡¡when
in¡¡distress¡¡make¡¡a¡¡promise¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡not¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡it£¿¡¡I
readily¡¡distinguish¡¡here¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡significations¡¡which¡¡the
question¡¡may¡¡have£º¡¡Whether¡¡it¡¡is¡¡prudent£»¡¡or¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡is¡¡right£»¡¡to
make¡¡a¡¡false¡¡promise£¿¡¡The¡¡former¡¡may¡¡undoubtedly¡¡of¡¡be¡¡the¡¡case¡£¡¡I¡¡see
clearly¡¡indeed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡extricate¡¡myself¡¡from¡¡a
present¡¡difficulty¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡this¡¡subterfuge£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡well
considered¡¡whether¡¡there¡¡may¡¡not¡¡hereafter¡¡spring¡¡from¡¡this¡¡lie¡¡much
greater¡¡inconvenience¡¡than¡¡that¡¡from¡¡which¡¡I¡¡now¡¡free¡¡myself£»¡¡and
as£»¡¡with¡¡all¡¡my¡¡supposed¡¡cunning£»¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡so¡¡easily
foreseen¡¡but¡¡that¡¡credit¡¡once¡¡lost¡¡may¡¡be¡¡much¡¡more¡¡injurious¡¡to¡¡me
than¡¡any¡¡mischief¡¡which¡¡I¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡at¡¡present£»¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be
considered¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡more¡¡prudent¡¡to¡¡act¡¡herein
according¡¡to¡¡a¡¡universal¡¡maxim¡¡and¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡a¡¡habit¡¡to¡¡promise
nothing¡¡except¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡keeping¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡soon
clear¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡such¡¡a¡¡maxim¡¡will¡¡still¡¡only¡¡be¡¡based¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fear
of¡¡consequences¡£¡¡Now¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡wholly¡¡different¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡truthful
from¡¡duty¡¡and¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡from¡¡apprehension¡¡of¡¡injurious¡¡consequences¡£¡¡In
the¡¡first¡¡case£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡action¡¡already¡¡implies¡¡a¡¡law
for¡¡me£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡second¡¡case£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡first¡¡look¡¡about¡¡elsewhere¡¡to¡¡see
what¡¡results¡¡may¡¡be¡¡combined¡¡with¡¡it¡¡which¡¡would¡¡affect¡¡myself¡£¡¡For¡¡to
deviate¡¡from¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡duty¡¡is¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡doubt¡¡wicked£»¡¡but
to¡¡be¡¡unfaithful¡¡to¡¡my¡¡maxim¡¡of¡¡prudence¡¡may¡¡often¡¡be¡¡very
advantageous¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡although¡¡to¡¡abide¡¡by¡¡it¡¡is¡¡certainly¡¡safer¡£¡¡The
shortest¡¡way£»¡¡however£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡unerring¡¡one£»¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡the¡¡answer
to¡¡this¡¡question¡¡whether¡¡a¡¡lying¡¡promise¡¡is¡¡consistent¡¡with¡¡duty£»¡¡is
to¡¡ask¡¡myself£»¡¡¡¨Should¡¡I¡¡be¡¡content¡¡that¡¡my¡¡maxim¡¡£¨to¡¡extricate¡¡myself
from¡¡difficulty¡¡by¡¡a¡¡false¡¡promise£©¡¡should¡¡hold¡¡good¡¡as¡¡a¡¡universal
law£»¡¡for¡¡myself¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡for¡¡others£¿¡¡and¡¡should¡¡I¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡say
to¡¡myself£»¡¡¡¨Every¡¡one¡¡may¡¡make¡¡a¡¡deceitful¡¡promise¡¡when¡¡he¡¡finds
himself¡¡in¡¡a¡¡difficulty¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡otherwise¡¡extricate
himself£¿¡¨¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡presently¡¡become¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡while¡¡I¡¡can¡¡will¡¡the¡¡lie£»
I¡¡can¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡will¡¡that¡¡lying¡¡should¡¡be¡¡a¡¡universal¡¡law¡£¡¡For
with¡¡such¡¡a¡¡law¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡promises¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡since¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be
in¡¡vain¡¡to¡¡allege¡¡my¡¡intention¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡my¡¡future¡¡actions¡¡to¡¡those
who¡¡would¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡this¡¡allegation£»¡¡or¡¡if¡¡they¡¡over¡¡hastily¡¡did
so¡¡would¡¡pay¡¡me¡¡back¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡coin¡£¡¡Hence¡¡my¡¡maxim£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡it
should¡¡be¡¡made¡¡a¡¡universal¡¡law£»¡¡would¡¡necessarily¡¡destroy¡¡itself¡£
¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡need¡¡any¡¡far¡reaching¡¡penetration¡¡to¡¡discern
what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡my¡¡will¡¡may¡¡be¡¡morally¡¡good¡£
Inexperienced¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡being
prepared¡¡for¡¡all¡¡its¡¡contingencies£»¡¡I¡¡only¡¡ask¡¡myself£º¡¡Canst¡¡thou¡¡also
will¡¡that¡¡thy¡¡maxim¡¡should¡¡be¡¡a¡¡universal¡¡law£¿¡¡If¡¡not£»¡¡then¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be
rejected£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡not¡¡because¡¡of¡¡a¡¡disadvantage¡¡accruing¡¡from¡¡it¡¡to
myself¡¡or¡¡even¡¡to¡¡others£»¡¡but¡¡because¡¡it¡¡cannot¡¡enter¡¡as¡¡a¡¡principle
into¡¡a¡¡possible¡¡universal¡¡legislation£»¡¡and¡¡reason¡¡extorts¡¡from¡¡me
immediate¡¡respect¡¡for¡¡such¡¡legislation¡£¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡indeed¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡discern
on¡¡what¡¡this¡¡respect¡¡is¡¡based¡¡£¨this¡¡the¡¡philosopher¡¡may¡¡inquire£©£»
but¡¡at¡¡least¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡this£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡an¡¡estimation¡¡of¡¡the
worth¡¡which¡¡far¡¡outweighs¡¡all¡¡worth¡¡of¡¡what¡¡is¡¡recommended¡¡by
inclination£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡acting¡¡from¡¡pure¡¡respect¡¡for
the¡¡practical¡¡law¡¡is¡¡what¡¡constitutes¡¡duty£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡every¡¡other
motive¡¡must¡¡give¡¡place£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡a¡¡will¡¡being
good¡¡in¡¡itself£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡worth¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡will¡¡is¡¡above¡¡everything¡£
¡¡¡¡Thus£»¡¡then£»¡¡without¡¡quitting¡¡the¡¡moral¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡common¡¡human
reason£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡its¡¡principle¡£¡¡And¡¡although£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»
common¡¡men¡¡do¡¡not¡¡conceive¡¡it¡¡in¡¡such¡¡an¡¡abstract¡¡and¡¡universal
form£»¡¡yet¡¡they¡¡always¡¡have¡¡it¡¡really¡¡before¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡use¡¡it¡¡as
the¡¡standard¡¡of¡¡their¡¡decision¡£¡¡Here¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡show¡¡how£»
with¡¡this¡¡compass¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡men¡¡are¡¡well¡¡able¡¡to¡¡distinguish£»¡¡in
every¡¡case¡¡that¡¡occurs£»¡¡what¡¡is¡¡good£»¡¡what¡¡bad£»¡¡conformably¡¡to¡¡duty¡¡or
inconsistent¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡if£»¡¡without¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü