An Examination of Deontology and Utilitarianism in Deeply Moral Situati

An Examination of Deontology and Utilitarianism in Deeply Moral Situations Samuel Adams (1722 - 1803), an Ameri rout out patriot and politician, once stated, Mankind are governed more by their feelings than by reason1. This statement is significant, as it undermines two of the primary ethical doctrines in philosophy - the deontological perspective defended by Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804) in Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (634), and utilitarianism, supported by John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) in his essay, Utilitarianism (667). Deontology and utilitarianism are contrasting theories. The former focuses on the intrinsic moral worth of our actions, whereas the latter argues that the consequences of our actions determine their moral value. Nevertheless, some(prenominal) perspectives substantiate Mills claim that our moral faculty.is a branch of our reason, not of our tippy faculty (678). Reason is an indispensable aspect of Kants deontological view, as he believes th e ordain is a capacity unique to rational beings. In Kants opinion, the leave is essential, as it facilitates our ability to act according to the universalizable maxims we establish for ourselves (653). Reason is also a crucial element of utilitarianism, as it is the intellectual faculty that enables us to deal the course of action with the best possible outcome (i.e., the choice that will ensure the greatest happiness or least amount of anguish for as many people as possible) (688). However, since both deontology and utilitarianism are governed by the notion that moral judgements are established through reason, can all theory apply in circumstances in which rational conception is not feasible? For example, during World War II, a Nazi spend offers a ... ...the least possible amount of pain). As a result, the internal emotional component that invariably arises in situations of moral import reinforces the bother in ascribing concrete rules and principles to circumstances tha t involve moral deliberation. All that can be shown is that the womans final decision may seemingly correspond to either deontology or utilitarianism in hindsight however, her unavoidable emotional anguish hinders her ability to count on rationally in terms of either perspective at the metre in which she is forced to make her decision. Work CitedBailey, Andrew, ed. First Philosophy thoroughgoing Problems and Readings in Philosophy. 1st ed. Toronto Broadview Press, 2002.Notes 1 Steven J. Hayes. Quotes by Adams, Samuel from Basic Quotations. 16 Dec. 2002. Online. 15 Feb. 2004 .