“You shall not murder” is the sixth Commandment, and the second on this
list. This one is most easily demonstrated by universalizing the converse of the
command. If murdering was considered appropriate morally, then there would be a decrease in trust
among those who have reason to dislike each other. Since many aspects of society depend on
cooperation between those not necessarily in agreement (notably politics and business, two major aspects of
American life), there would be a decrease in productivity in these areas (or, in the case of politics, a nullification of
any minor gains that currently manage to accidentally occur). This would reduce the ability to function
as a culture, and reduce the likelihood of the culture to continue, which would defy the imperative to murder at
will. Therefore, the converse, stating that to murder is wrong must be accepted as a better alternative by
which to define a Moral Imperative.
“You shall not commit adultery” states the seventh Commandment. The
marriage bond is one largely based on three principles: love, trust, and exclusivity. While adulterous
actions may not, it can be argued, affect the degree of love within a relationship, they can certainly affect the other
two aspects. When a marriage begins, the phrase “Forsaking all other ‘til death do us part” is
traditionally included. This exclusivity principle allows the husband and wife the right to know each
other more intimately than is generally possible within normal human relationships. In order to
maintain that level of intimacy, there must also be a degree of trust in the relationship. If one states that
it is wrong to seek sexual companionship outside of the marriage bond, the tenet actively promotes the exclusivity
principle while protecting trust, if it is indeed an implicit agreement between husband and wife that adultery is
wrong (which it would be, were the ethic universalized). Therefore, it would seem that universalization
of the ethic that adultery is wrong is not self-defeating and therefore morally correct by the Categorical
Imperative.
“You shall not steal” . Were this statement universalized, and universally
followed, there would be no ill effects that can reasonably result. Keys and locks would need less use,
there would be less fear about leaving personal property unattended, and people would be less likely to fear those
they don’t know, because they won’t have the concern of being robbed. There is no self-defeat inherent
here, indicating another Moral Imperative.