Kant vs. Bentham: Utilitarianism vs. Deontology
Professor Innes
Jerry “Sean” Hughes
Mid Term
Kant vs. Bentham
Throughout the realm of philosophy there have been many arguments on the idea of ethics and what motivates human nature and guides our judgments. I will be focusing on two philosophers both of whom tried to answer that question. Jeremy Bentham whose views on what should be used to guide our judgments as to what's wrong or right have been defined as utilitarianism. Focusing on a different idea using morals and a sense of duty to the greater good comes, Immanuel Kant's ethics of deontology, or the ethics of rules and duties. Jeremy Bentham's ideas of utilitarianism focus on the experiences of pleasure over pain. To Bentham utility is the property in any object that tends to produce benefit, good, pleasure or happiness or prevent the happening of pain/evil, or unhappiness to the party where interest is considered. Kant on the other hand uses what he called imperatives to decide what should be considered morally right. The imperative, the law or choice must be respected, no matter what consequences come from the choice. Also Kant looks at it this way, if the action in and of itself could be placed into a law for the morals of the people.
Bentham: So Immanuel, are you saying that in order for a person to be moral that he has to possess his or her own free will?
Kant: Yes Jeremy that is correct, your idea that morality can be dictated by a government or a majority of the people is ridiculous.
Bentham: You’re wrong on that account Immanuel because human kind is evil in nature so they have a hard time deciding what is right and wrong so we need rules to govern us to make the right decisions.
Kant: Even though those rights may infringe on our personal beliefs? Our individuality is what makes us human, whole!!
Bentham: You are wrong about that, the greater good is what is important, so what if a minority of the people is left out, it is important that the majority is happy, then and
Jerry “Sean” Hughes
Mid Term
Kant vs. Bentham
Throughout the realm of philosophy there have been many arguments on the idea of ethics and what motivates human nature and guides our judgments. I will be focusing on two philosophers both of whom tried to answer that question. Jeremy Bentham whose views on what should be used to guide our judgments as to what's wrong or right have been defined as utilitarianism. Focusing on a different idea using morals and a sense of duty to the greater good comes, Immanuel Kant's ethics of deontology, or the ethics of rules and duties. Jeremy Bentham's ideas of utilitarianism focus on the experiences of pleasure over pain. To Bentham utility is the property in any object that tends to produce benefit, good, pleasure or happiness or prevent the happening of pain/evil, or unhappiness to the party where interest is considered. Kant on the other hand uses what he called imperatives to decide what should be considered morally right. The imperative, the law or choice must be respected, no matter what consequences come from the choice. Also Kant looks at it this way, if the action in and of itself could be placed into a law for the morals of the people.
Bentham: So Immanuel, are you saying that in order for a person to be moral that he has to possess his or her own free will?
Kant: Yes Jeremy that is correct, your idea that morality can be dictated by a government or a majority of the people is ridiculous.
Bentham: You’re wrong on that account Immanuel because human kind is evil in nature so they have a hard time deciding what is right and wrong so we need rules to govern us to make the right decisions.
Kant: Even though those rights may infringe on our personal beliefs? Our individuality is what makes us human, whole!!
Bentham: You are wrong about that, the greater good is what is important, so what if a minority of the people is left out, it is important that the majority is happy, then and