Critically discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Kantian Ethics

Kant sought to provide the moral agent with an intrinsic, deontological, universal system of ethical rules to follow in all situations, in order to work out the correct moral action to take. His ethical system consisted of a 'Categorical Imperative' with three different formulations, or maxims, for what to do in a moral situaiton. Kantian ethics is based on the notion of "Duty for Duty's sake" as described by F H Bradley, with an aspiration of reaching the highest moral good - the summum bonnum. 

Kant's moral system is often praised for its value of supposed "intrinsic" goods such as duty, and not using others as means to ends, all of which are incorporated into the three formulations of his Categorical Imperative. Thus, by applying these fixed rules to any moral sitation, this gives the moral agent a clear sense of direction insofar as they must perform whichever action accords with the rules of the Categorical Imperative, which has been specifically designed to protect what Kant saw as the most important values. On the other hand, Kant's system can be accused of not being as simple as it appears, and often leading to conflicts of duty. The formulations of the Categorical Imperative imply that one should not lie, and that one should always keep one's promises. Kant's system offers no solution to a problem where such duties conflict and thus the moral agent is left without a course of action to take.