The Supreme Principle of Morality: Universal Law

Abstract

Kant states the supreme formal principle of the will in the following terms: ‘Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.’²⁸ A maxim, Kant says, is ‘a subjective principle of action’.²⁹ By this he means a rule of action a man follows as part of his own policy of living, whatever rules of living other people may have. Maxims are contrasted by Kant with laws, which are objectively valid for all rational beings A maxim is mine or his, a law applies to everyone. A man may make an objective law his own subjective maxim by deciding that he will always follow it. The principle we have just quoted, then, means that people should only adopt as rules of living for themselves rules that they can will should be always followed by everyone.