Kantian Ethics vs. Utilitarinism

Cooper Dubuque

Kantian ethics and Utilitarianism represent two different moral philosophies. Proposed by German philosopher Immanuel Kant, Kantian ethics believes that humans are defined by their rationality and autonomy. Kant continues that the good intentions of actions are more important than their outcomes, coming from a sense of duty rather than meeting desire. Utilitarnism proposed by Bentham and elaborated on by John Stuart Mill defines humans by their ability to feel pleasure and pain. It is hedonistic, and states that the outcome of actions is more important than their motivations, as long as greater good or pleasure is achieved.

Kantian ethics seems very rigid or black and white in that it leaves no room for negotiating moral actions while the ability for Utilitarianism to deal with matters that are gray might seem more appealing to some people.  Kantian ethics seem more practical to me for when it comes to morality there should not be any compromise. Utilitarianism is hedonistic, whose self-gratification seems backwards to the goal of greater good.  Pleasure and pain shouldn’t be the measurement system in which actions are morally weighed instead of human rationality. Pain and pleasure can be irrational and how can the moral truth of our behaviors be derived when there are not reasonable or logical means to ascertain them. Kantian ethics has been criticized as unattainable or undesirable to the greater good; the scenario given in class was a neighbor hiding in your house from a serial killer and being unable to lie you would have to give the neighbor up. It’s unfair to think that Kantian ethics would restrain you in certain instances of creating greater evil with little good by giving up your neighbor as there are many moral means to preventing this situation or other hypotheticals. Not answering the door and calling the cops for example or self-defense against a lunatic is appropriate. Utilitarnism doesn’t even place Humans and animals on different moral tiers, and I don’t feel my moral obligations and understanding are on the same level as beasts.