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Kant argues that more principles must be valid for all rational beings in all circumstances. He further contends that actions are moral if and only if they are performed without ulterior motives, with no attention to consequences, and out of pure respect for morality. (Initially these propositions are based on general assumptions about morality, though in Chapter 3 Kant shows that they may be based on the concept of free will.) According to Kant, a priori concepts are the only possible basis for a formula that would meet these criteria. Any particular event or decision that we undergo will take place under particular circumstances; any tradition will depend on a particular history; any need or desire will depend on our particular personality. Only a priori concepts apply universally to all experiences of rational beings.
Thus, Kant concludes that the moral law must be derived a priori. Hegel and other philosophers have pointed out, however, that there are problems with this conclusion. In practice, moral decisions cannot be made a priori. They always take place within a particular society at a particular time, and moral intuitions must be based on social institutions and expectations. Without knowledge of the society in which we are living, we would not be able to tell whether our actions would help or hurt other people.
