A categorical imperative is a command that orders us to do
something unconditionally.
The categorical imperative is an idea that the philosopher
Immanuel Kant had about ethics. Kant said that an "imperative" is
something that a person must do. For example: if a person wants to
stop being thirsty, it is imperative that they have a drink.
Kant said that the moral choices are governed by a categorical
imperative. The categorical imperative is something that a person
must do, no matter what the circumstances.
It is imperative to an ethical person that they make choices
based on the categorical imperative. Another way of saying that, is
that an ethical person follows a "universal law" regardless of
their situation.