Das Verfahren der Universalisierung in der Ethik

Can one argue with a fanatic or a suicide bomber using Kantian ethics? Can a rational suicide bomber be convinced with logical arguments? Or will one even fail before a truly logical and not irrationally thinking suicide bomber? What does ethics achieve if it cannot even convince the fanatic who thinks in a truly coherent and rational manner and accepts rational arguments? These are questions that should be answered at the end of this book. However, to arrive at the Kantian solution to these questions, one should plan for a longer journey. It is necessary to define the Kantian terms 'maxims', 'moral law', as well as the various types of 'procedures of universalization'. This is particularly important because Kantian ethics is an ethics of maxims and universalization: 'Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.' Only after this arduous work has been accomplished can one correctly answer the initially posed, troubling questions.