Main Steps of the Derivation on the Criterial Reading

According to the traditional reading, Kant's Groundwork derivation of the Formula of Universal Law has an obvious flaw. It thus makes sense to look elsewhere for more promising derivations of a Kantian principle. Allison reconstructs Kant's second Critique derivation of the Formula of Universal Law, Korsgaard his Groundwork derivation of the Formula of Humanity. Yet we have found that neither of these reconstructed derivations succeeds. The prospects for a derivation of a Kantian principle seem very dim. The rest of this book aims to show that they are brighter than these results suggest.

I challenge the traditional reading of Kant's Groundwork derivation of the Formula of Universal Law. According to the “criterial reading” I defend, Kant's Groundwork I derivation of this formula can be broken down into three main steps. First, Kant tries to pinpoint criteria that we, on reflection, believe that the supreme principle of morality must fulfill. Second, Kant attempts to establish that no possible rival to the Formula of Universal Law fulfills all of these criteria. Third, at least implicitly Kant argues that the Formula of Universal Law remains as a viable candidate for a principle that fulfills all of them. With these three steps, Kant strives to prove that if there is a supreme principle of morality, then it is this formula. In short, Kantargues by elimination.