In the first part of the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant starts by examining the importance of a good will. Virtues such as intelligence or courage can turn evil if the will guiding them is not good. Therefore a good will might be considered to be good in itself without further qualifications.
After this, he turns to the concept of duty. To do an action according to duty is to do it simply out of respect for that duty and not for any external motivation. Here, we see Kant yet again dismissing the effects or intended effects of our actions but rather wants us to turn our focus to the action itself and our intent behind that action.
Finally, Kant gives his first formulation of the categorical imperative. This formulations states that we should not act unless we will that the maxim of our actions shall become a universal law. Many people try to simplify this and equate it to the golden rule (do unto others as you would have done to yourself). This, however, oversimplifies it by ignoring the larger universality of these maxims. Instead, a more accurate simplification might be "do unto others as you would have done to yourself and everyone else in the world.
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