Beginning of Essay
The central concept of Kant's Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals is the categorical imperative. “The conception of an objective principle, in so far as it is obligatory for a will, is called a command (of reason), and the formula of the comman ....

Middle of Essay
.... act only on the maxim, that actions have moral worth, and the end is necessary. From these stipulations, it can be derived that the categorical imperative should be followed in order to live morally. “If an action is conceived as good in itself and consequently as being necessarily the principle of a will which of itself conforms to reason, then it is categorical.” (Abbott, 32) “There is therefore but one categorical imperative, namely, this: Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” (Abbott, 38) The categorical imperative must be found A Priori and it excludes all interest ....