Immanuel Kant, an influential philosopher of deontological or duty-based ethics. Kant believed that actions have moral value, not through the outcome, but through the motive behind them, and that the only way to act morally is one based on universal laws. There are a series of imperatives that we must respect, whatever the outcome. Kant called these “categorical imperatives,” we can call these actions moral. We do them because we feel obligated, it's our duty, and we do it whether we like the result or not. There are also “hypothetical imperatives”, these are things we must do to achieve a specific result. Kant states that if one believes that an action is moral, one could argue that it is a universal law. I initiated and volunteered to help my father in his quest for sobriety because it was my duty. Taking on this responsibility tugged on my heart and led me to disappointment. My mother wasn't supportive of his sobriety, but he's your typical codependent in denial. I think it was a somewhat selfish act; I wanted it simple, and no hoop was too small to try to jump through. It was selfish, but I knew I was the only one in his corner who was willing to fight and do what it took to get there. My intentions were to get my father sober, it was the right thing to do and it was my duty, but it was an act of selfishness. Immanuel Kant, one of the most influential philosophers in the history of Western philosophy. “According to Kant, the only characteristic that gives an action moral value is not the result obtained by the action, but the motive behind the action. And the only motive that can give an act moral value, he argues, is that which arises from universal principles disco...... middle of paper ......on my emotions "We might be tempted to to think that the motivation which makes an action good is to have a positive objective: to make people happy, or to bring a benefit. But this is not the right motive, says Kant. No result, if we achieve it. cannot be unconditionally good. Fortune can be misused, what we thought would bring benefit might actually bring harm, and happiness might be undeserved. "I thought my efforts would bring only good, however, I. injured myself while trying to help another being. Even if my intentions were moral, that didn't necessarily mean the outcome would be good. According to Kant, my motive was not the right kind of motive - I thought I was helping, I thought I would make myself happy and make others happy. in the end my motivation fired me and left me exhausted, disappointed, and my father is still an alcoholic.