The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics

roduced. Accordingly every action has its end, and as no one can have an end without himself making the object of his elect

e not conditionally) but the end itself (therefore unconditionally), hence it is a categorical imperative o

. Amongst these ends there must also be some which are at the same time (that is, by their very notion) duties. For if there were none such, then since no actions can be without an end,

bjective), properly pragmatical, including the rules of prudence in the choice of its ends; but the latter we must call the moral (objective) doctrine of ends. This distinction is, however, superfluous here, since moral philosophy already by its very notion is clearl