Philosophy / Unit 7 Philosophy 0290 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Formula of Universal Law
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The idea
Kant's formula of universal law: act only on maxims you could will as universal laws—if universalizing your rule destroys it, the act is forbidden.
In practice
The lying promise: universalize "promise falsely when convenient" and promises die—no one believes them—so the maxim self-destructs.
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