Moral actions must be motivated by duty rather than inclination from "summary" of Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant
The moral worth of an action lies not in the consequences it produces or the emotions that drive it, but in the intention behind it. According to Kant, moral actions must be motivated by duty alone, rather than by inclination or personal gain. Inclinations are driven by desires and emotions, which can be unpredictable and self-serving. By contrast, duty is a rational principle that guides our actions in accordance with universal moral laws. When we act out of duty, we are motivated by a sense of moral obligation rather than by subjective feelings or preferences. This duty is derived from the categorical imperative, a universal principle that commands us to act in a way that we would want everyone else to act in similar circumstances. By following this principle, we treat others as ends in themselves rather than as means to...
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