This good maxim stems from an understanding of our obligation to obey universal moral laws. Kant offers three propositions about duty: the first tells us to identify an individual’s reason for following duty, the second asks that we evaluate their motivations (their maxim), and the third states that a truly good maxim can be applied as a universal law.

Furthermore, we can pursue good will by following duty. We can evaluate a person’s intentions by focusing on their desired outcome, or end. Kant establishes the importance of a “good will.” Anyone can have certain talents, but they will only benefit the world if the person gifted with them intends to use them for good. In the First Section, Transition from common to philosophical moral rational cognition, Kant argues that humans are uniquely fit to understand the principles of morality because of our capacity for reason. He asserts that all human beings can understand this principle intuitively, meaning it requires a priori cognition. He acknowledges he will not be able to establish a complete metaphysics of morals at this time, but he believes he can prove the existence of a “supreme principle of morality” that governs all rational human beings.

In the preface, Kant establishes his hopes for his writing. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is composed of a preface and three sections. It is the third printing of the revised edition. This guide correlates to the edition published by Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy in 2018.

Grounding for the metaphysics of morals