Higher RMPS

1
Higher RMPS

• Lesson 6
• Area 2 Examples

2
Learning intentions

• After todays lesson you will be able to
• consider the relationship between Kantian and
  utilitarian ethics and the moral issue being
  studied in area 2
• apply Kantian and utilitarian ethics to different
  modern moral issues.

3
Kantian / Utilitarian Ethics and Moral Issues
4
Crime and punishment

• Utilitarian view
• In An Introduction to the Principles of Morals
  and Legislation (1789)
• Bentham argued that
• Appropriate punishments for crime must be
  considered in relation to the consequences of the
  wrong doing on others.
• Punishment is an effective way of deterring
  others from similar action and
  the criminal from re-offending.
• Punishment is necessary to ensure the greatest
  good for the greatest number of people.

5
Utilitarian view continued

• In A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive
  (1843) Mill argued that
• Punishment is the consequence of crime.
• Punishment must be about reformation.
• For some serious crimes life imprisonment is most
  appropriate as the criminal is removed completely
  from society and deprived of freedom because this
  provides the most amount of happiness.
• The obvious consequence of stopping the life of
  an innocent person must be to stop the life of
  the criminal.
• Mill argued that if a person had no possibility
  of release from prison because their crime was so
  terrible, e.g. murder, then the greatest amount
  of happiness will be achieved by ending the
  criminals life thus preventing them from years
  of pain in prison.

6
Crime and punishment

• Kantian view
• In The Philosophy of Law (1887) Kant argued that
• The penal law is a categorical imperative.
• Criminals must pay for their crimes.
• Punishment is necessary but not for the greater
  good of society, which would mean individuals
  would be used as a means to an end.
• Punishment is necessary because there is a duty
  to punish criminals to establish justice and
  demonstrate dignity for the victims.
• The punishment must fit the crime, for example a
  murderer must be murdered.

7
Gender issues

• Utilitarian view
• Utilitarians believe the happiness of everyone is
  of equal value and they aim to provide the
  greatest happiness to the greatest number of
  people.
• In doing so an action may hurt some people but
  provide happiness for the greatest number of
  people.
• Bentham, however, argued that the individual is
  the best judge of his or her own happiness. The
  way to maximise happiness is to leave people free
  to make their own choices.
• Mill argued that individuals should have control
  over their own lives and be free to do anything
  that is not harmful to others.
• In The Subjection of Women (1869) Mill argued
  for social and economic equality. He outlined an
  ideal of marriage in which both partners are
  equal thus giving each maximum pleasure.

8
Gender issues

• Kantian view
• Kant argued there is a difference between people
  and things.
• Things have a price and can be exchanged for a
  price but people are beyond price.
• Everyone should be treated as a person with
  dignity and not as an object.
• The consequences of stereotyping and
  discrimination against women is that women are
  treated as objects, which is to deny the dignity
  they deserve as humans.
• Kants saw women as being experts in the
  beautiful and sublime but he believed their
  morality was based on feelings not reason, his
  ideas of duty and categorical imperatives
  therefore did not apply to women.
• In Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful
  and the Sublime (1764) Kant said, Man should
  become more perfect as a man, and the women as a
  wife.

9
International issues

• Utilitarianism view
• Making a moral decision is based on what causes
  the greatest happiness for the greatest number of
  people.
• Therefore it would be a morally good act to give
  money to charity and support international aid.
• However, utilitarianism does not say it is
  morally wrong to fail to give money to charity
  and support international aid.
• A rule utilitarian might respond by arguing no
  rules suggest they are obligated to give money to
  charity and support international aid.
• An act utilitarian might respond by arguing we
  must act morally in ways which improve the world.
• The long-term effects of global warming will
  produce more harm than good so utilitarians would
  want to fight against global warming.
• For further information, go to www.utilitarian.net
  /singer/ for more details.

10
International Issues

• Kantian view
• We act because of our duty, we ought to do what
  is right.
• It is right to help others and support charities
  concerned with international aid in addition to
  looking after the world we live in.
• Someone who gives money to charity to support
  international aid or fights global warming
  reluctantly but because they believe they ought
  to is acting in a morally correct manner
  according to Kant.
• Someone who gives money to charity to support
  international aid or fights global warming
  because they feel compassion for those less
  fortunate than themselves or are protecting the
  world for their children does not, according to
  Kant, act in a morally correct manner.

11
Medical ethics

• Utilitarianism view
• Utilitarianism is concerned with the consequences
  of action.
• Act utilitarians would consider the individual
  situation and decide the right course of action
  in relation to the circumstance of the situation.
  For example, in euthanasia, is the person in a
  lot of pain? Is there an available cure? Will the
  illness progress and cause more suffering? In the
  use of human embryos, are the embryos being
  created just for research purposes? Is the embryo
  going to live and be loved? Is the embryo being
  created purely for the benefit of someone else?
• A rule utilitarian believes that society needs
  clear rules as a result they would want to
  protect the majority by supporting an
  anti-euthanasia stand or the use of human embryos
  even if it led to individuals experiencing severe
  suffering.
• For further information, go to www.utilitarian.net
  /singer/ for more details.

12
Medical ethics

• Kantian view
• You cannot go against perfect duties.
• According to the categorical imperative you act
  based on what can become a universal law and
  never act in a way that treats a person as a
  means to an end.
• Euthanasia - Kant wanted to see moral laws as
  universal laws. With this in mind is it realistic
  to think of a world where wanting to die leads to
  death or where people can die to avoid suffering?
• Use of human embryos to create a donor for an
  existing person would be wrong according to Kant
  as this would be using a human as a means to an
  end.

13
War and peace

• Utilitarianism view
• Utilitarianism does not argue that war or modern
  armaments are wrong.
• However, utilitarians are concerned with the
  greatest happiness for the greatest number
  therefore neither war nor modern armaments are
  desirable due to the great deal of pain and
  suffering involved.
• Utilitarians are also concerned with treating all
  people as equals and in war some people are
  enemies, which would not be desirable to most
  utilitarians.
• Utilitarians are categorically opposed to nuclear
  war as the consequences are too severe and the
  devastation and suffering caused would out weigh
  any benefits.
• A rule utilitarian would support the just war
  theory, although it is not obviously
  utilitarian, because it may be necessary to make
  the world a better place.

14
War and peace

• Kantian view
• According to Kant a moral law must be universally
  good.
• Everyone has a moral duty and people only suffer
  as a result of their own decision to breach that
  moral law.
• Going to war needlessly would not be supported by
  Kant as it would involving willing someone to be
  shot or die, which is not goodwill.
• However, he would support the just war theory as
  we could support a universal law that said it was
  ok to go to war to defend a country in the same
  way we would want to be defended if being
  attacked.
• Soldiers are not humans being used as a means to
  an end because they are paid and they are
  fighting for their own safety as well as that of
  others.
• In relation to modern armaments it is important
  to consider the universal law if it is ok for us
  then it is ok for everyone else.

15
Learning checkCrime and punishment

• Explain the main features of utilitarian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might utilitarian's respond to the issues
  relating to the punishment of criminals? 8AE
• 3. Explain the main features of Kantian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might Kantians respond to issues relating to
  the
• punishment of criminals? 8AE

16
Learning checkGender

• Explain the main features of utilitarian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might utilitarians respond to issues arising
  from gender
• roles world wide? 8AE
• 3. Explain the main features of Kantian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might Kantians respond to issues arising from
  gender
• roles world wide? 8AE

17
Learning checkInternational issues

• Explain the main features of utilitarian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might utilitarians respond to issues arising
  from
• globalisation? 8AE
• 3. Explain the main features of Kantian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might Kantians respond to issues arising from
  
• globalisation? 8AE

18
Learning checkMedical ethics

• Explain the main features of utilitarian
  ethics. 3KU
• 2. How might utilitarians respond to the moral
  implications of euthanasia? 8AE
• 3. Explain the main features of Kantian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might Kantians respond to the moral
  implications of euthanasia? 8AE

19
Learning checkWar and peace

• Explain the main features of utilitarian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might utilitarians respond to the issues
  arising from
• fighting wars? 8AE
• 3. Explain the main features of Kantian
  ethics. 3KU
• How might Kantians respond to the issues arising
  from
• fighting wars? 8AE