In Kantianism reason is the sole authority for determining what is ethical and what is ethical must be based on a principle or rule that that must apply to every human being universally, without exception. The rule is based on what Kant calls the Categorical Imperative- they base morality on universal laws or rules and not on individual interests or desires. Universal Law is any personal moral rule that can be applied to all human beings without exception. Kant feels that a person should be praised or blamed for their actions based on the intentions with which they acted. He did not believe that one should consider the morality (rightness or wrongness) of an act on the basis of the act’s consequences. Therefore a person’s motives are the major factor in determining whether a specific action is moral. The focus is on the act and the intention with which it was done rather than on its consequences.
The basic principle of utilitarianism is that actions are right to the degree that they promote the greatest good for the greatest number. The general idea is to come up with the greatest amount of happiness among the greatest number of people. The consequences of an act is the only way for determining the moral quality of an act, that is the consequences in terms of happiness produced by an act. Every human act has as its goal happiness, which is looked at in terms of producing positive effects for oneself and loved ones. Utilitarianism differs from Kantianism in that they (utilitarians) understood that our individual actions cannot take into account every human being (as Kant’s Categorical Imperative suggests) but rather those who are closest to us.
The Term Paper on Affirmative Act Action People White
We have seen in the United States that there have been many groups who have been in one way or form discriminated against. The very people who framed the Constitution of the United States are the same people who wrote the laws that discriminate against large segments of the population. The majority of these individuals were white males who literally held the power. This created a cultural dynamic ...
Kant based much on the intentions of the person performing the act where as Utilitarianism looks at the act and judges it according to the amount of positive feeling in the largest number of people. Kant believed that the moral law must be observed and every human is to be treated with respect. Human beings are not to be viewed as a means to an end but as ends in themselves. Utilitarianism also believe that humans are to be treated with respect but that respect must take into account the real, everyday situations in which people live.
An example of Kantianism was found in The Record dated Monday April 16, 2001. A lady went out for drinks and dinner. When she got home she wanted to make dinner for her 17-year-old son. She put a chicken breast and some oil in a skillet and turned on the stove. While the chicken was cooking she went into the living room to watch TV. She fell asleep not noticing the smell of the oil smoking in the pan. The next thing she knows she is on the grass in her front yard being shaken by her neighbor. She is not a bad person because the intent of her action was good even though the consequences of her action were bad.
An example of utilitarianism was found April 16, 2001 on CBS Health Watch. (The results of the study are published in the April issue of Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry.) There is a newly developed test that will be able to determine the levels of mercury in fish. Experts have found more types of fish that might have high levels of mercury. The test is easy and can be done at home or in the field without harming the fish. On a small sample of the fish you apply an enzyme and then a few hours later you add a dye. The dye changes in color if the mercury exceeds safe levels. This is great for the consumer but an added burden for the fishermen. The benefits to the millions of fish eaters outweigh the problems and costs incurred by the fisherman. Although the test will make things difficult for the fishermen the test will promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people by allowing the fish eaters to eat fish without fear of mercury poisoning.
The Essay on Gold Fish And The Fisherman
The Gold Fish And The Fisherman Once upon a time there was an old man named 'Ko'. Ko was a fifty-year old fisherman. He liked children very much but unfortunately he and his wife Jean did not have any of their own. Sometimes he felt quite lonely at home. Ko and Jean lived close to the harbour. One thing that Ko did not like about Jean was her temper. Very often she yelled at him for no reason at ...