hi! there is a reference to immanuel kant’s categorical imperative in jesse armstrong’s mountainhead. was the reference philosophically correct, uttered by the character played by steve carrel. please elucidate.
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In Mountainhead, Randall Garrett—Steve Carell’s character—makes a dramatic declaration: “I take Kant really f‑ing seriously!” This is triggered when his understanding of categorical morality is questioned ft.com+15time.com+15sfist.com+15. But is he using the concept correctly?
📜 What is Kant’s Categorical Imperative?
Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative is the central principle in his moral philosophy. In its most famous formulation, it commands:
“Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”
In simpler terms:
- Unconditional: It applies to all rational beings at all times.
- Universalizable: You must only act on principles that could be adopted universally.
- Duty-bound: Ethics is about duty rather than outcomes or personal benefit.
How Randall (Steve Carell) Misapplies It
Randall embodies a typical tech-bro rationalist mindset—cold, instrumental, and self-serving. While he brags about valuing Kant, his actions reveal a superficial grasp:
- Moral façade, not commitment
- His declaration (“I take Kant really f‑ing seriously!”) comes off as performative, meant to impress peers rather than guide his choices time.com+14time.com+14nsnews.com+14.
- Selective universalism
- True Kantian ethics demands universal respect. Randall, however, supports decisions like launching AI tools and even murder plots to protect his agenda. These actions cannot be consistent with Kant’s principle.
- Instrumentality over duty
- Kant’s imperative treats individuals as ends in themselves. Randall and his fellow “brewsters” clearly view people as means to an end—capital gains, legacy, etc.
Bottom line: Randall says the right words but doesn’t act like a Kantian. His invocation of Kant is rhetorical rather than ethical.
Why This Satire Works
Jesse Armstrong uses this moment to spotlight a familiar trope: the technocrat flexing philosophical prestige to cloak power-hungry behavior. Applying high-minded language to selfish motives heightens the satire—and unearths the hypocrisy of characters who claim depth without substance.
🧠 Philosophical Truth vs. On-Screen Performance
- Philosophically, his statement is incorrect. He equates mastery of Kant with self-serving utility, which is antithetical to Kant’s categorical imperative.
- Dramatically, it serves its purpose: showcasing how easily moral language can be co-opted to justify unethical tech-power plays.
In Summary
- Randall doesn’t truly live by Kant’s categorical imperative.
- His claim is a performative moral gesture—a veneer to legitimize ambition.
- This misfire is exactly the point: Armstrong is skewering the ethical gymnastics of modern elites who throw around Big Ideas without adhering to them.