Utilitarianism And Immanuel Kant - 1213 Words

Immanuel Kant’s philosophical writings have influenced people all throughout the world. Centuries later, his works still form a major point of reference in studies carried out in the modern world. His writings have brought a new dimension in religion, law and history. Among his many works was the Metaphysics of Morals which is the subject of this paper. His view of morals is that our desires and emotions are categorically imperative, meaning that they are conscience driven. His philosophy is closely related to the golden rule which states that one should always act in accordance to the outcome that will give him the best outcome. The categorical imperative rule of Kant seems to suggest that actions must be universal for them to be†¦show more content†¦Moral law does not focus on consequences, but rather on the process of how an individual comes to a decision. Kant insists that a good will is not good because of its consequences, but because of its desire to do well fo r reasons other than itself. Other good features of human nature and the benefits of a good life have value conditionally, since they may be used either for good or for evil. However, a good will is intrinsically good because its value is comes from within itself and therefore is not influenced by external factors. This further relates to the categorical imperative in which, rational beings are to only act on maxims that could become universal law. Good will is guided and further developed through practical reason. Practical reason does not focus primarily on the achievement of happiness because a good will does not depend even on the consequences it produces. The moral value of the action resides in a maxim, which holds individuals responsible for their actions as a result of their duty. According to Kant, the ultimate indicator of morality must be a moral law leading to the right action when applied to every scenario. Therefore moral law must be general so as to be universal and able to be applied to every moral agent. Kant formulated that right actions are those that could be applied as moral law as part of his theory of moral obligation through the process of analyzing moral concepts. Although everything tends to act in accordanceShow MoreRelatedMoralism And Immanuel Kant And Utilitarianism1746 Words   |  7 Pagesargument when deciding based on moral beliefs, or solely on the consequences has always been a debate. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses not on the action itself, but the consequences that come from those actions. In a point in time people began to look at their own philological teachings on the topic of mor ality and ethics. One being Kantian ethics which was formed by Immanuel Kant. Kant’s ethical theory is an example of deontological moral theory, that focuses not on the consequenceRead MoreUtilitarianism And The Other One Is By Immanuel Kant And Norman E. Bowie2221 Words   |  9 Pageshe question about whether utilitarianism or Kantianism gives a more accurate understanding for our moral obligations is brought up there are two different arguments. One argument by Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mills and Andrew Gustafson is in favor of utilitarianism and the other one is by Immanuel Kant and Norman E. Bowie, which is in favor of Kantianism. With more information and knowledge on the two ethical theories, you will realize that Kantianism gives a more accurate understanding for ourRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism And Immanuel Kant s Categorical Imperative1487 Words   |  6 Pageswith, but two major categories of moral philosophy are the most popular and the most debat ed. These are John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative. In looking at the three trolley cases, one can align themselves with either Mill, Kant or create their own perspective. Utilitarianism is defended by Mill in his writing entitled Utilitarianism. This method of deciphering good versus bad is rather simple. The Principle of Utility states that â€Å"Actions are right inRead MoreA Lie Is Not Moral Or Ethical Value1004 Words   |  5 Pagesdisrespectful. I believe, the purpose to a lie is achieving a goal at the expense of another. It holds no moral or ethical value. Human beings are entitled to be respect by others. A philosopher known as Immanuel Kant who established two rules called as categorical imperative under the deontology theory (Kant, 2008). Deontology is the obligation or duty to act (Mosser, 2013). The rules in categorical imperative are one should act in a way that maxims resulting in action being a universal law and actRead MoreLying, By Jeremy Bentham1613 Words   |  7 Pageshabit to many people, a habit they have a hard time breaking. Lying can simply be defined in one word, deception. Jeremy Bentham who is a British philosopher in the 1700’s and early 1800’s believed in the principle of utility otherwise known as utilitarianism. Jeremy Bentham thinks it’s permissible to tell a small lie because in the long run Bentham is looking for the ultimate amount of happiness. Bentham believes in the greatest happiness for the greatest number. As long as an act brings more happinessRead MoreThe Theory Of Effective Altruism968 Words   |  4 Pagesrelates closely to the ethical framework of utilitarianism as well as deontology of philosopher Immanuel Kant. Peter Singer’s idea of effective altruism follows greatly from his commitment to utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that claims that an action is moral only if it maximizes utility, or happiness, for the collective good. In his TED talk, Singer uses several examples of effective altruism that follow his commitment to utilitarianism. One of the main concerns related to effectiveRead MoreThe Case Of Frank Van Den Bleeken1672 Words   |  7 Pageshis life. Since Van Den Bleeken was continuing his psychologically unbearable sentence in Belgium, physician assisted suicide was an impending option as it had been made legal in the country back in 2002 (Krugel, 2016). Through ethical analysis, Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill would reach an agreement in which Van Den Bleeken should be restricted his right to physician assisted suicide. The three philosophers had various epistemological thought processes and ethical theories appliedRead MoreEssay on Role of Happiness in Ethical Decisions1209 Words   |  5 Pagesunderstanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason† (Kant 1). The usage of reason as a representation of one’s intellect is a common trait in the 21st century. Happiness, a positive emotion, tends to blur one’s judgement and coerces philosophers to look upon its relevance when formulating ethical decisions. When considering the role of emotion in ethical decisions, one must consider the contrasting views of Immanuel Kant, an 18th Prussian philosopher that focussed his philosophies aroundRead MoreKant And Mill On Animal Ethics Essay1365 Words   |  6 PagesIn this essay I will begin by explaining the overall views of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, then compare and contrast the ideas and philosophies of Kant and Mill on Animal Ethics. I believe that Kant, the deontologist, will not care as much about the duty/responsibility between humans and animals as Mill, the utilitari an, who will see the extreme importance of animal ethics. After studying and explaining the views and teachings of these two philosophers I will see if my thesis was correct,Read MoreKant s Concept Of Categorical Impairment1371 Words   |  6 PagesImmanuel Kant, a well-known eighteenth century German philosopher, offers a more convincing theory of justice than that supported by utilitarian or Lockean theory by defining what it means to act autonomously. Autonomy, meaning self-govern, regards to ones actions as being a result of their own free will. Although Kant attempted to look for another way for people to be good outside of religion, he believed that people had natural rights that were god given. Kant is best known for his idea of categorical