Utilitarianism And Kant's Moral Theory
Question 1 In ethics many theories have similar and different ideas among them. Two theories that share this are utilitarianism and Kant’s moral theory. Both theories have similar ideas but they also are perceived differently. Utilitarianism is based on the principle of utility by John Stuart Mill. It is the belief that people ought to concern themselves with the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people (MacKinnon, Fiala, 2014 p. 356). With utilitarianism, the belief if about the consequences of the action and how it affects all involved. What makes an action moral is its effects, the motive for the action does not matter. For example, let’s use helping an old lady across the road. The helper might have the motive of getting paid,
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The moral theory believes the action is only moral if it was done with the right intention or motive (MacKinnon, Fiala, 2014, p.71). Let us use the old lady example again. If the helper does the action because it is the right thing to do (ought to), that is what makes the action moral. So with the moral theory it is all about the motive of the action, not the consequences.
Both utilitarianism and moral theory share the idea what ought to be done. Their differences is how they are perceived. Utilitarianism is perceived moral from the consequences of the action, or the outcome. Kant’s moral theory is perceived moral from the motive behind the action, or the why. As shown, both theories share likes and …show more content…
Where this differs from the rest of ethical theories is, the focus on what we ought to be, not what we ought to do. Virtue ethics also concentrates on the on the individual character and what is good. An example of a virtue is courtesy, or the ability to be respectful and considerate of other people. In virtue ethics, it is the person’s moral good that is determined not the whole society.
Natural law and virtue ethics share the “oughts”. Natural law states what we ought to do to be good. Virtue ethics states how we ought to be, and concentrates on the individual good. Though they share the ideas of moral good, they differ in that one is an action (natural law) and the other is traits of the individual
The moral theory believes the action is only moral if it was done with the right intention or motive (MacKinnon, Fiala, 2014, p.71). Let us use the old lady example again. If the helper does the action because it is the right thing to do (ought to), that is what makes the action moral. So with the moral theory it is all about the motive of the action, not the consequences.
Both utilitarianism and moral theory share the idea what ought to be done. Their differences is how they are perceived. Utilitarianism is perceived moral from the consequences of the action, or the outcome. Kant’s moral theory is perceived moral from the motive behind the action, or the why. As shown, both theories share likes and …show more content…
Where this differs from the rest of ethical theories is, the focus on what we ought to be, not what we ought to do. Virtue ethics also concentrates on the on the individual character and what is good. An example of a virtue is courtesy, or the ability to be respectful and considerate of other people. In virtue ethics, it is the person’s moral good that is determined not the whole society.
Natural law and virtue ethics share the “oughts”. Natural law states what we ought to do to be good. Virtue ethics states how we ought to be, and concentrates on the individual good. Though they share the ideas of moral good, they differ in that one is an action (natural law) and the other is traits of the individual