Kantian ethics is a moral philosophy developed by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. It emphasizes the importance of duty and the principle of universality, which states that one should act only according to maxims that can be universally applied. This means that an action is morally right if it can be consistently willed as a universal law for everyone. Central to Kantian ethics is the concept of the categorical imperative, which guides individuals in determining their moral obligations. According to this principle, actions should respect the inherent dignity of all individuals, treating them as ends in themselves rather than as means to an end.