The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics

of duty in the categorical imperative: "Act so that the maxims of thy action might become a universal law." But in ethics this is conceived as the law of thy own wil

character of universal legislation, which is only a negative principle (not to contra

ke this or that thy end (e. g., the happiness of others)" applies to the matter of the elective will (an object). Now since no free action is possible, without the agent having in view in it some end (as matter of his elective will), it follows that, if there is an end which is also a duty, the maxims of ac

on, which is the formal principle of actions. But a law abolishes the arbitrary character of actions, and is by th