Irfan Ajvazi Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Tesla Academy of Sciences Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Kant's analysis of ordinary moral consciousness reveals that people believe they are bound by duty. Duty, in turn, Kant explains, "is the necessity of an action from respect for law." All inclination to the contrary, and even inclination toward duty is set aside, so that the only motivation is respect for law. The binding power of the law reflects not only a universal command but also a universal command of reason. After all, given that the realm of experience is, by nature, contingent, no empirical fact can command as completely. Reason's command is an imperative: it is what must be done. When one does one's duty for its own sake, then one acts from respect for the moral law. The categorical imperative is formulated variously according to universality, human dignity, autonomy, and a "kingdom of ends." One must be able to universalize one's personal rule for acting; one must treat oneself and others always as ends in themselves; one must act as if one legislated morality; and one must act as if one were a member of a legislative body in the ideal moral community. Kant calls the moral law the categorical imperative: it is what one must always do (or not do). According to Kant, the first formulation of the categorical imperative is this: "Act only according to that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law."