Not quite “categorical imperative” any longer

Immanuel Kant had ethics and enlightened people in mind when he called upon the general public in 1784 to rid itself of its “self-inflicted immaturity”, in modern parlance: to use their own head. A piece of advice that is just as up-to-date over two hundred years later.

Kant’s “categorical imperative” raises one’s own actions to a universal law.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you!

The imperative, also known in German as the “command form”, is often associated with ancient emperors or modern despots and military actions: Linguistically however, this applies less to commands but rather to requests, suggestions and appeals.

“Drop me a line sometime!” And who nowadays would not be delighted with a “real letter”?
The imperative is one of three possible forms of expression (modi): the other two are the indicative and the subjunctive form.

• Ich schreibe dir. (Indikativ) I’ll write to you.
• Ich würde ihm/ihr gern schreiben… ich schriebe ihm/ihr so gern! (Konjunktiv)
  I would like to write to him/her… I like writing to him/her!
• Schreib/Schreibt/Schreiben Sie mir ! (Imperativ) Write to me !

Aside from this personal form, there is also an impersonal one which – in the infinitive – refers to an unwanted or wanted conduct: Classical examples are

Do not step on the lawn! Please take off your shoes!

And eventually a past participle form: It ranges from the military “Attention! ” to the quaint “notice taken!” of comedian <Erwin Pelzig>.

In French the prohibition refers directly to the object: “Pelouse interdite” (Lawn prohibited!), while in Italian the destruction of the lawn is anticipated in an almost theatrical way: “Vietato calpestare l’erba!” (Trampling the grass down prohibited!)

In my experience the Chinese were the most discrete: They just put up signs showing two feet. You probably cannot formulate the imperative more discreetly …

@ bine