Question

According to Kant, when lying (making a false promise) becomes a universal act that everyone performs all the time what are the two primary reaons that make the act of lying (making a false promise) self-defeating and thus morally impermissible?

Answer 1

It shall be noted that as per the opinion of Kant, lying or making false promise is always wrong, when it becomes a universal act demonstrated by everyone at all time.

1) The rule that "it is permissible to lie" cannot be adopted universally as with such act being performed by everyone, people would cease to believe on one another, thereby resulting in the self-defeat of the act of lying or making false promise and eventually making it morally impermissible.

2) The universally demonstrated act of lying or making false promise does not do good to anyone and would reflect to be a meaningless gesture and restrict an activity being performed for all future time to come for which people stand out to lie or make false promise. The real intent gets defeated. Hence, it is morally impermissible. A morally impermissible maxim is said to contradict themselves resulting in self-defeat.