Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

How is Kant's "Categorical Imperative" described in the situation of buying postal stamps?

4 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I suppose while you are in the line to buy the stamps, it would be contrary to the imperative to knock over everybody else in the line in order to get to the front of the line.

  • 1 decade ago

    Suppose I discovered that I could "slip one through" now and then. I could put a letter without a stamp into the box, and through habit it would be delivered, and I would save some money. Perhaps nobody at the post office would even notice I didn't put a stamp on. Or, more realistically, perhaps they'd ask the recipient to pay.

    Either way, I might get away with something.

    But, upon reflection as a Kantian, I come to understand that this isn't universalizable. If everybody did it, the postal system would collapse.

    Also, I'm treating the postal carriers as means to my ends by fooling them in this way. Not as ends in themselves.

    How's that?

  • 1 decade ago

    Buying stamps is a non-ethical action and therefore the categorical imperative doesn't really apply.

  • 1 decade ago

    Wouldn't you wish that everyone buy stamps to remain ethical?

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.