The Categorical-Instrumental Imperative

Abstract

Chapter 1 argued that moral philosophy should be based on Firm Foundations — on truths commonly recognized by human observers — and that the following conception of normative rationality is the firmest such foundation:

Instrumentalism: if one’s motivational interests would be best satisfied by φ-ing, then it is instrumentally rational for one to φ — that is, one instrumentally ought to φ.