Result · Metaphysics Frontier problem Resolved

Categorical Imperative Derivation

Categorical Imperative Derivation is a frontier problem in the ETHICS domain.

Philosophy Core foundational problem ETHICS Book VII

Overview

The Categorical Imperative – Kant’s foundational moral principle – is derived in Book VII as a structural theorem, not postulated from practical reason. The derivation (VII.T30-T35) proceeds through the earned topos structure at E3. Dignity is defined as label-independence: an action respects dignity if its moral evaluation is unchanged when the identity of the affected party is erased.

Detail

The CI emerges as the unique minimal j-closed fixed point of the dignity modality in the presheaf topos. The No-Conflict Theorem (VII.T31) proves that genuine CI-derived duties never conflict – trolley problems are shown to be misspecified frames. See the detailed fixed-point derivation for the full Knaster-Tarski proof and the Categorical Ethics module for the framework context.

Result Statement

The CI is derived as the unique j-closed fixed point. Status: Resolved (established, machine-checked).