On Utilitarianism and Kantian Ethics - 1681 Words

1. Introduction There is little doubt that Utilitarianism and Kantian Ethics are by far the two most important ethical theories throughout contemporary philosophy. Though both attempt to answer questions about morality and behavior, the two theories have many fundamental differences: one evaluates actions in terms of the utility they produce whereas the other considers whether actions fulfill duty; one emphasizes consequence where the other highlights intentions; one sees desire as essential while the other precludes it and values reason. For years, philosophers have raised many objections towards each of the two theories, some of which are very compelling. In this paper, I will introduce and explain two famous objections to Classical Utilitarianism and anticipate how a non-utilitarian Consequentialist might try to avoid these problems. I will also describe the basic idea of Kantian Ethics and explain why Kant’s theory is less vulnerable to the harsh criticisms faced by Utilitarianism. 2. Two Objections to Classical Utilitarianism Classical Utilitarianism is the doctrine that an act is morally right if and only if it maximizes overall utility , and that each person’s utility is counted impartially in the calculation. Specifically, Classical Utilitarianism entails three important elements: (1) Consequence is the only criterion in judging whether an action is right or wrong; (2) the net utility (the outcome after precluding total pain from total happiness) is the only thingShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism And Kantian Ethics Analysis786 Words   |  4 Pagesadhere to. Utilitarianism and Kantian ethics are two systems that provide a way to approach life decisions, big and small. Utilitarianism, nicknamed â€Å"The Greatest Happiness† states that the ethical choice is the choice that yields the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people. Kantian ethics, also called duty ethics, explains that for any action, people must act according to common principles, with no significance placed on the outcome. The ethical theories, utilitarianism and KantianRead MoreEssay on Utilitarianism And Kantian Ethics1178 Words   |  5 Pages Utilitarianism and Kantian Ethics nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ethics is one part of philosophy that will always be studied, and like most subjects in philosophy, will never be viewed the same by everyone. There are so many cultures that have so many different beliefs about the way a persons life should be lived out. Things like religion, poverty, and mental health all contribute to our beliefs in ethics. Some people believe that the mental state of a person or the motive for that person committingRead MoreCorporate Welfare And Utilitarianism : Utilitarianism And Kantian Ethics914 Words   |  4 PagesCorporate Welfare and Utilitarianism Case one proclaims that the American economy is failing millions of Americans. In today’s day in age, having a full time job does not guarantee an income above the poverty line. Currently, there are â€Å"80 government assistance programs† which provide working families the means to survive. It is important to note that these programs cost $153 billion annually, and these costs are covered by the government from the tax revenue they receive from hard working AmericansRead MoreKantian Ethics vs. Utilitarianism1714 Words   |  7 Pagesmorality such as John Stuart Mill’s theory of Utilitarianism. In teleological approaches to morality, questions of right and wrong, or the notion what an individual ought to do, are determined by the consequences of a given action. One thinker to reject this idea of consequentialism was Immanuel Kant. In his Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant endeavors to establish a system of ethics that has no trace of the empirical nature of utilitarianism. To him, â€Å"the moral worth of an action doesRead MoreKantian Ethics vs. Utilitarianism Essay1190 Words   |  5 Pages 1.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Explain Onora O’neil’s argument for preferring Kantian ethics to Utilitarianism. 2.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;How would Richard Taylor respond to O’neil’s defense of Kantianism? In the following questions, Onora O’neil defends Kantian ethics while Richard Taylor agrees more with the Utilitarian ethics view. To fully understand both views and why each author defends their view, a brief introduction of each author and who they are is necessary. Onora O’neilRead MoreKantian Deontology, Utilitarianism, And Virtue Ethics1606 Words   |  7 PagesOver the course we’ve studied three ethical theories, those theories are Kantian deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics. These theories focus on different philosophies or views that are used to either explain or make a judgment in regards to what is considered right or wrong in a given situation. To begin with, ethical theories help explain why an individual believes that an action is right or wrong. It gives one an understanding of how an individual chooses to make ethical decisions. WhichRead MoreThe Ethical Theories Of Utilitarianism And Kantian Ethics Essay1650 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay, I will be discussing an article about a woman who starved her two horses. I will address the issue about whether or not the woman’s action was ethical. I will use the two ethical theories of utilitarianism and Kantian ethics to support my argumen t. I will also suggest a different course of action the woman could have taken to be justified, through both ethical theories. The article follows the story about an Australian woman who breached her duty of care to two horses that she ownedRead MoreThe Schiavos, Rule Utilitarianism, and Kantian Ethics Essay1269 Words   |  6 PagesRui Chaves The Schiavos, Rule Utilitarianism, and Kantian Ethics The case of â€Å"The Schiavos† is focused primarily on one member of the family, which is Terri Schiavo. Terri had been in a coma for 13 years. Although, â€Å"no one is completely sure what happened but the best guess is she suffered a heart attack† (Pierce, 64) presumably caused by her bulimia. Due to the severity of her heart attack, it left Terri with severe brain damaged which in turn left her in a persistent vegetative state which leavesRead MoreKantian Ethics And Utilitarianism Are At Variance On Issues Of Morality1992 Words   |  8 PagesKantian ethics and utilitarianism are at variance on issues of morality and do share a similar end goal on what general ethical outcomes in solving the ills of the world. These two philosophical thoughts examine nature of morality with variant theories. As Kantian ethics are based on the theories propagated by German philosopher Immanuel Kant, utilitarianism on the other hand as has been projected by Jeremy Bentham and John S tuart Mills and many others who share in this school of thought. In thisRead MoreDifference Between Virtue Ethics, Kantian And Utilitarianism977 Words   |  4 Pages258). Virtue ethics then is concerned with what makes a person virtuous versus vicious when it comes to making moral decisions, with emotions playing an important role. In this paper, I support Aristotle’s emphasis on emotions as a key to being virtuous, especially since emotions tell us what is important and motivate us to act (Shafer-Landau, 2015, p. 257-258). Before we get to the premises of my argument, I would like to distinguish the difference between virtue ethics, Kantian deontology and