Comparing Utilitarianism And Kantianism

Utilitarianism and Kantianism are the same in that both theories of ethics believe that we as humans have duties. These duties determine if we can be accepted in a moral community. Utilitarianism says we can be accepted by doing things that produce the most good. Kantianism believes we are accepted by doing actions that have good intentions and that we must follow the good will.
Utilitarianism is the theory that actions are good if the outcome is good. Act utilitarianism says that it is okay, and sometimes may be required, to break certain rules in order to have the best possible results. Rule utilitarianism believes that the best possible outcome only happens if the rules are followed. According to utilitarianism, what makes a member of
Telling the truth is considered good because the intent of being honest is good even if the end result may cost someone their happiness. This view, known as deontology, would say never to lie, therefore, Shafer-Landau should have been honest to his friend and told her what he heard about her. Another view Kant has is that of the good will. Kant believes that the only thing that is truly valuable is the good will. The good will states that people should know what their moral duty is and carry out those duties. In Kant’s beliefs, a member is part of a moral community if their intentions of their actions are good in themselves and if they fulfill the needs of the good will. That person will be accepted if they try to help a homeless person or child even if there is no benefit for that person or, if by him doing those actions, may cause more harm than
Here, Kant’s principle of humanity is introduced. The principle states, “Always treat a human being as an end, and never as a mere means” (The Fundamentals of Ethics, p.174). Kant believes that any being that is capable of thinking rationally and is in control of their own actions should be treated with respect, meaning as an ends. If I ask a friend for help on my chemistry homework but I am polite to her, thank her for helping me, and treat her with the respect she deserves then I am treating her as an ends. Treating someone as a means is treating someone kindly in hopes that they will, in return, help you get what you want. If I ask the same friend to help me again and then never speak to her again after I accomplish my goal, I am treating her as a means. This principle is another way that Kant describes how a person can be considered a member of the moral