Write a research paper that goes into further detail on Immanuel Kant’s “Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morals.”

Write a research paper that goes into further detail on Immanuel Kant’s “Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morals.”http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/kant1785.pdf

Choose ONE question from the following set of questions and write an essay response in no fewer than 500 words (but in no more than 1000).

QUESTION 1
Except for logic, both physics and ethics, according to Kant’s division of philosophy, have an “empirical” part, in addition to a “non-empirical” or “a priori” part. (The Latin expression ‘a priori’ in philosophy means “coming prior to, and standing before all experience of the world—experience itself being made possible by the use of the various senses.”) Why, according to Kant’s way of thinking, is there a need for a “pure ethics”—that is, one that is grounded in purely a priori principles? Why can’t ethics concern itself only with what is strictly “empirical”?
QUESTION 2
Kant tries to answer the question “what can be considered good without qualification”. What is his answer, and how does he explain his answer? Is his answer unique, in the sense that there can only be exactly one thing that can be considered “good without qualification”? Explain.
QUESTION 3
Kant thinks he has discovered the “supreme principle of morality”—that principle which, if the will gives itself fully to it, is thereby made free in Kant’s sense (i.e., in the sense of autonomy: being completely self-determined). Provide at least two formulations of this “supreme principle”, and then discuss at least one example (or “illustration”) of one of these formulations (see pp. 24ff of the text for those examples/illustrations Kant conveniently provides for our consideration).

QUESTION 4
The concepts of freedom and of human free will play a central role in Kant’s moral philosophy. Does Kant think that we are always free—or must we in some sense struggle to achieve a moment of freedom (of truly free action) in our lives? If you think Kant must be committed to the view that we must struggle to achieve freedom, then what does this suggest about our life as a whole—must it therefore involve a continual battle of sorts, one whose victory is never assured and whose loss always threatens? Explain.

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