Describe Kant's first formulation of the categorical imperative?

Answer 1

its pretty complicated,,,,, major themes are that it must be applied equally at all times, be universal,,,, you might check out this link, for some details on it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categorical_imperative

Answer 2

The first formulation of Kant's categorical imperative states the following:

"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law"

By this, Kant hopes to set up a universal way of determining right behavior. If one follows this imperative, when he is deciding whether or not to run a red light he will say to himself: "If everyone on the road were required to run this red light, would that result in something good?" Most likely, his answer would be no, that everyone running the same red light at the same time would cause chaos and thus that running this red light should not be made a universal law.

Answer 3

The two basic points are:

- Always act in a way you could raise to a universal law
- Humans should be treated as a goal in itself, not just as a way of getting something

I don't know if this is the first formulation tho