Kant Vs. Utilitarianism

Kant Vs. Utilitarianism 

Immanual Kant developed the idea of Kantian Ethics. And he created a fundamental principle called the Categorical Imperative it has two general duties to it and from those duties more can be derived from them. The two duties consist of 1) the duty of self perfection, and 2) the duty to promote the happiness of others.  We need to perfect ourselves in the sense that we need to think of other before we think of ourselves and how to make them happy without lying or doing anything other than what is pure good. Doing these acts out of good will and for no other reason. If we have successfully promoted the happiness of others we are then worthy of happiness ourselves. Kant believes strongly in no lying at all even small lies or stretching the truth because you are setting up a double standard because you are expecting that other person to be honest and not lie to you. He believes even if the lying will promote happiness as in lying to not hurt another person's feelings is still morally wrong.

Another side to ethics which is different from Kant's view is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is about promoting happiness and pleasure with having the absence of pain.The main goals for utilitarianism is for pleasure and the freedom from pain. These are the only things desirable as goals because any other thing that may be desirable is because it is pleasurable and does not have any pain. This also says not only to think of your own happiness but to think of others happiness as well. Also to think about your actions and weigh out all the consequences and how others will be affected by it. By promoting happiness for many people and sacrificing your own happiness is when are actions are considered morally good such as in donating money to charity instead of keeping it for yourself.

I think the most plausible theory is Utilitarianism because it more realistic to what I think most people will follow. If you are working to promoting happiness but not hurting others along the way and acting in such a way like donating to charity which can make many people happy besides yourself you are considered a good person. I disagree mostly with Kant's view about lying because while it is a bad thing most of the time it can be a good thing in order to protect someone physically or emotionally and this way you are promoting more happiness rather than taking it away from them.

All acts that promote happiness are morally good.
All acts that are self-sacrificing promote happiness
Therefore all acts of self-sacrificing are morally good