Normative Unity, Practical Divergence Human Finitude and the Necessity of Moral Judgement

This paper addresses the practical tension between Kant’s Formula of Universal Law (FUL) and Formula of Humanity (FH). Despite sharing a normative unity grounded in autonomy, their application diverges due to human finitude—specifically, FUL’s discursive framing limits and FH’s epistemological opacity. Analysing the 'inquiring murderer' and 'passive relinquishment of life' scenarios, this study argues both formulas operate as complementary frameworks for finite moral agency. Agents must navigate this via a 'determinative-reflective cycle' of Judgement. Within this cycle, FH reflectively frames context-sensitive maxims, while FUL determinatively tests them, bridging universal law and particular application.