ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses Immanuel Kant’s highly influential theory of ethics: duty derived from reason. It focuses on the other two basic methods advanced to determine universal moral duty: the theory of divine command and the idea of ethics based on human nature or natural law. The chapter considers some ways of thinking about ethics that would run counter to such universal ethics to sharpen understanding of the ethics of duty. The most famous part of Kant's ethical theory revolves around what he called the categorical imperative. Kant's deontological system of ethics is thus a universal system of ethics. Kant was a major figure in the intellectual movement historians refer to as the Enlightenment. This period ran through most of the 1700s, centered primarily in Western Europe. The most famous part of Kant's ethical theory revolves around what he called the categorical imperative. Kant's deontological system of ethics is thus a universal system of ethics.
