What Is The Difference Between John Stuart Mill And Kant

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John Stuart Mill was an English philosopher who contributed greatly to the fields of social theory, political theory, as well as philosophy. Mill was a strong proponent of the ethical theory of utilitarianism, and in his work, titled Utilitarianism, he provides support for the theory, and also attempts to respond to and do away with misconceptions held on it. On the other hand, Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in modern philosophy. Kant has had a notable influence on a number of fields, such as ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. In his work Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, Kant introduces a number ideas and concepts, such as Categorical and Hypothetical Imperatives, as well as discussing duty. In both Mill and Kant’s ideas and philosophies focus on concepts that …show more content…

Although both share the similarity that they focus on rules that govern humanity as a whole, there are a number of differences in their ideas, namely in their differing opinions on the role of duty and what makes an action morally right.
One area where Kant and Mill have differing opinions is on the idea of duty and how one determines an actions moral worth. Kant, in his work, describes duty as the necessity to act out of respect for the law, rather than acting as a result of an inclination. Also, Kant makes the claim that the moral worth of an action is determined by its respect for duty and the law rather than personal inclinations. According to Kant, an action is morally right when, rather than being influenced by personal inclinations and desires, it is rather out of respect for the law or what is virtuous. Kant shows this in his work by starting, “Duty is the necessity of acting from respect for the law. I may have inclination for an object as the effect of my proposed action, but I

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