hypothetical imperative

British  

noun

1. (esp in the moral philosophy of Kant) any conditional rule of action, concerned with means and ends rather than with duty for its own sake Compare categorical imperative

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Example Sentences

All prudential or technical rules are hypothetical imperatives, the moral law is a categorical imperative.

From Project Gutenberg

Because of that I call all the other commandments made to us hypothetical imperatives and that of conscience, alone, the categorical or absolute imperative.

From Project Gutenberg

The former would be hypothetical imperatives, and contain mere precepts of skill; the latter, on the contrary, would be categorical, and would alone be practical laws.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly the hypothetical imperative only says that the action is good for some purpose, possible or actual.

From Project Gutenberg

The hypothetical imperative which expresses the practical necessity of an action as means to the advancement of happiness is Assertorial.

From Project Gutenberg