Moral philosophy or ethics is the study of certain values which help determine human behavior. Different theorists take different approaches to the issue, and one of the more interesting and complex is that of Immanuel Kant. Bernard Williams notes that Kant relies on some ideas which are not shared by other modern theorists, "in particular that a commitment to the basic principle of morality (the so-called 'Categorical Imperative') is presupposed by the very activity of a rational agent" (Williams 555).
Kant distinguishes between acts that are performed out of duty and acts which are performed for the sake of duty, holding that those acts performed in accordance with duty but not from duty have no moral worth. In making this distinction, Kant is setting forth a moral principle in keeping with his view that morality does not derive from nature but from the mind, and it is what is intended that is important rather than what occurs without intent, even if the action is the same. Kant uses a thought problem that shows the distinction. He cites the case of a dealer who does not overcharge an inexperienced purchaser. This is clearly in accordance with duty. However, the merchant refrains from overcharging and thus provides the same price for all so that all his customers can buy form him equally. He does this because it is to his advantage to do it and not because there is a moral principle involved, though the result is the same as if he were paying attention to duty. However, unless the individual is acting because of a moral duty, the action cannot be considered a moral action. Kant also uses the example of our desire to preserve our own life and notes of people in general: "They preserve their lives, to be sure, in accordance with duty, but not from duty" (Kant 114). It is not a moral action without this intent.
For Kant, to act for the sake of duty means to act out of reverence for the moral law. He says that a go...