Immanuel Kant And George's Theory Of Ethics And The Utilitarian Theory

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According to Drolet, Marie-Josée, and Anne Hudon (p.51), two main theories attempt to explain in depth and justify moral laws and principles; utilitarianism and deontological theories. Jeremy Bentham and John Mill developed the theory of utilitarianism while Immanuel Kant developed the deontological theory. These two theories are based on how the consequences of a given act impact on an individual. The deontological theory is based on the one’s moral judgment rather than the set rules and regulations. On the other hand, the utilitarianism theory focuses on the consequences of a given deed. This paper primarily focuses on how a strict utilitarian and a strict deontologist would respond to George’s scenario. The arguments will be based on the
His theory is based on one’s judgment rather than what the society considers right or wrong. Kant bases his theory on the rightness or wrongness of a deed rather than the consequences that follow the act. He explains that people need not follow the rules blindly just for the results, but carefully consider the morality of the actions themselves.
As a strict deontologist, George would allow his wife to take up a job to support the family given that he is not in good health. He should not strain himself as this may pose a greater danger to his life. He needs to listen to his wife, who is willing to take up the job and become a breadwinner for the family. Such an action would display humanity, as George is considerate of the feelings of his family members (Williams, p.249).
George needs to take up the job of working in the laboratory as a strict deontologist, as this would enable him to fend for his family. In such an instance, George needs to set aside his stand on the chemical and biological warfare and consider the status of his family. There is no guarantee that he will land another job anytime soon. He, therefore, needs to take up this job to support his family. As a strict deontologist, Kant claims that one needs to consider the current situation and opt for the choice that will suit the current

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