A hypothetical imperative is best described as a command that applies only if what?

A hypothetical imperative is best described as a command that applies only if what?

• A. You are subject to it
• B. You desire a particular end
• C. It aligns with universal law
• D. It is a social norm

Answer: (B)

A hypothetical imperative is an instruction that only applies if you have a specific goal in mind. Its force comes from the end you want to achieve, so the rule tells you what to do to reach that end. If you don’t care about that outcome, the command isn’t binding for you. For example, if you want to stay healthy, you should exercise regularly; if you don’t care about health, that instruction doesn’t compel you. This is different from commands that bind regardless of desires (which would be a categorical imperative) and from rules that depend on social expectations or authority. Because a hypothetical imperative hinges on a chosen end, it applies only when you desire that particular end.

A hypothetical imperative is an instruction that only applies if you have a specific goal in mind. Its force comes from the end you want to achieve, so the rule tells you what to do to reach that end. If you don’t care about that outcome, the command isn’t binding for you. For example, if you want to stay healthy, you should exercise regularly; if you don’t care about health, that instruction doesn’t compel you.

This is different from commands that bind regardless of desires (which would be a categorical imperative) and from rules that depend on social expectations or authority. Because a hypothetical imperative hinges on a chosen end, it applies only when you desire that particular end.