On The Contemporary Transformations Of The Kantian Categorical Imperative

The categorical imperative represents the efforts of searching universal valid norms in ethical studies. On account of the different unstanding of the source of universal validity, the Kantian categorical imperative, which serves as a type of modern moral norm, cannot get an intact justification in contemporary times. In a sense, that efforts of earching universal valid norms also centrally embodied in the theoretical exploration of contemporary philosophers such as Theodor W. Adorno, Hans Jonas, John B. Rawls and Jürgen Habermas. Therefore, as it were, the categorical imperative has gained transformation in varies ways.Adorno holds that the Kantian categorical imperative contains a thinking mode of identity, which may result in ignorance toward human diversity and corporal sufferings. In practice the thinking mode of identity is apt to lead the rational subjects to self-destruction. So Adorno advocates to dispel the identity of the Kantian categorical imperative and then transforms the Kantian categorical imperative into the minimal imperative in a negative approach.Jonas points out that the Kantian categorical imperative belong to the anthropocentric ethics, which only regulates the current human behavior and its range of application is just confined in pre-technological times. However, when human being enter the technological era, the Kantian categorical is not enough. Because it doesn't provide regulations concerning future obligations for the massive technological behavior. Hence Jonas comes up with the long-range imperative of responsibility to transform the Kantian categorical imperative when he reflects its currency.Rawls achieves a transformation of constructive procedure for the Kantian categorical imperative. According to Rawls, the Kantian categorical imperative is firstly not understood as a moral principle with substantial contents, but a kind of rational form or structure that used to test moral principles. While the Kantian categorical imperative pertains to a type of moral constructive procedure. Following the Kantian approach of constructivism, Rawls develops a type of political constructive procedure, namely, the original position which serves to demonstrate the principles of justice.Harbermas appreciates the formalism in the Kantian categorical imperative, he believes that it is the formalism that guarantees the seeking for universality. Nevertheless, for Harbermas' s apart, the Kantian categorical imperative is just a kind of abstract universality. For this purpose, Harbermas intends to inherit the abstract universality by procedural universality. Meanwhile, Harbermas is also aware of the monologue of the Kantian categorical imperative. For this reason, he takes the human communicative actions into consideration and abrogates the monologue in the inter-subjective dialogue. Consequently, the Kantian categorical imperative was transformed into a kind of pragmatic procedure by Harbermas.It is not difficult to find in the contemporary transformations of the Kantian categorical imperative that pure practical reason has not taken the absolute position in constructing universal moral norms. Although every kind of the new version of categorical imperative is on longer the Kantian one, they all indicate that the contemporary practical philosophy study doesn't put its attention to establishing systems or principles like integral money. Reversely, it increasingly focuses on some concrete issues e.g., the potential consequences of technology and the justice of social distribution. Thereby the moral norms become “small exchange” obviously.