Foundations of Metaphysics of Morals

Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, by Immanuel Kant, explores how moral principles are grounded in reason rather than experience or emotions. Kant argues that true morality is based on acting according to universal principles—what he calls "categorical imperatives"—that we see as duty because they respect the intrinsic worth of all rational beings. The work establishes that moral laws are not subjective but rooted in our capacity for rational thought, making morality objective and universally applicable. Essentially, it offers a framework for understanding moral duties as stemming from rational principles that apply to everyone equally.