The act utilitarianism and social contract theory bartleby. The main difference between kantianism and utilitarianism is that kantianism is a deontological moral theory whereas utilitarianism is a teleological moral theory. Kant held that every rational being had both an innate right to freedom and a duty to enter into a civil condition governed by a. Utilitarianism, kantianism, and virtue ethics flashcards. Lying is universally wrong and thus it is wrong in kantianism too. This paper analyses each key reasons for outsourcing through three ethical theories, such as utilitarianism theory, kantianism theory and social contact theory. Start studying utilitarianism, deontology, and social contract theory test 2 phil 1175. What are the similarities and differences between kants. The elements of moral philosophy ebook download free pdf. Pdf three general theories of ethics and the integrative. Utilitarianism, game theory and the social contract. Lecture 8 social contract theory ubc computer science. Ethicists have argued for over a century about the feasibility, applicability, and the possible results of the implementation of such a system.
Difference between kantianism and utilitarianism compare. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Subjective relativism there are no universal moral norms of right and wrong all persons decide right and wrong for. Kantianism, utilitarianism, social contract theory ignore important moral considerations moral education moral wisdom family and social relationships role of emotions virtue ethics arete, virtue, excellence. Student views of classic ethical positions in business dan baugher. The thesis of this essay is that rawls theory is kantian only in its articulation or formulation, not in its foundation or. According to hedonism, the main aim of life is the achievement of maximum pleasure. There is hardly any similarity between utilitarianism and kantianism. I am assigned a paper in exploring ethics in which i must find 2 separate shows that reflect 2 separate theories. Kantianism vs utilitarianism those who are not students of philosophy, words like utilitarianism and kantianism may sound alien, but for those who try to tackle questions of ethics and wisdom, these two represent important viewpoints.
The main difference between kantianism and utilitarianism is that kantianism is a deontological moral theory whereas utilitarianism is a teleological moral theory both kantianism and utilitarianism are ethical theories that express the ethical standard of an action. Kantianism, utilitarianism, social contract theory, and virtue theory. Acting rightly thus requires being motivated by proper universal principles that treat everyone with respect. Modern democracies are all about utilitarianism as they aim to bring the greatest amount of happiness to the greatest number of people. In contemporary moral philosophy, the main impartial moral theory outside the social contract tradition is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism consequencebased ethics learning theories. The social contract played an especially important role in the development of classical liberalism.
From the point of view of rule utilitarianism, social contract theory and kantianism, it is necessary to maintain some privacy and confidentiality information to the third party. They had no government and there was no law to regulate them. Act utilitarianism au is the moral theory that holds that the morally right action, the act. These are virtues of character, and no society, community, or other social group can flourish without a majority of individuals who possess a majority of these character traits, or virtues. Social contract theory versus kantianchristian morality. His work came within both the natural law and the social contract traditions. Utilitarianism, deontology, and social contract theory. Kantianism, utilitarianism, and social contract theory examples of objectivism so are divine command theory and ethical egoism, but we rejected these as poor bases for ethical argumentation. Both kantianism and utilitarianism are ethical theories that express the ethical standard of an action. Introduction to ethics utilitarianism divine command. The concept of social contract theory is that in the beginning man lived in the state of nature. That a legitimate government requires the consent of the people was a fundamental tenet of liberal political theory, and the social contract served as an explanation of. Under the social contract individual desires are not used in determining the law, but rather the maxim that satisfies the conditions of the categorical imperative. There are many similarities between utilitarianism and kantianism that confuse some people.
Kantianism, either the system of thought contained in the writings of the epochmaking 18thcentury philosopher immanuel kant or those later philosophies that arose from the study of kants writings and drew their inspiration from his principles. Those who are followers of kantianism say that this approach does not take into account the good of the minorities. Utilitarianism is the prominent type of consequentialist ethical theory, which more generally define the right action in terms of the consequences the action produces. Kantianism, utilitarianism, and social contract theory examples of objectivism so are divine command theory and ethical egoism, but we. For an update on utilitarianism, you have to read about consequentialism, which is a more generalized view of which utilitarianism is the chief example. An action is right or wrong to the extent that it increases or decreases the total happiness of the affected parties utility is the tendency of something to produce happiness. Utilitarianism tells us that it is the happiness or well being of sentient beings that is the valuable thing. Introduction one of the longstanding debates in the field of ethics has to do with the ethical system of utilitarianism. According to deontology, there are certain absolute or nearly absolute ethical rules that must be followed for example, the rule that we must respect peoples privacy, and the rule that says we must respect other peoples right to make decisions about their own. These weaknesses require another theory of ethics for economics, virtue ethics, which emphasises the interrelatedness of agents and. Following the four basic principles of act utilitarianism, rule utilitarianism, social contract theory, and kantianism his actions will be discussed in the following paper. Tj, john rawls claims his two principles of justice are an interpretation of kants second formulation of the categorical imperative and that the original position is a procedural interpretation of kantian autonomy. Kants treatment of universalism and utilitarianism always complicates modern liberal projects that. An evaluation of two popular moral theories in business decision making joan marques woodbury university, joan.
Recalling the social contract chart, think of scenario 2 as one where everyone has a. Kantianism is a key version of the broader ethical perspective known as deontology. Ethical theories of utilitarianism and kantianism essay. According to kant, we should look at our maxims, or intentions, of the particular action. Social contract theory, contractarianism and contractualism the first major normative ethical theory we discussed was utilitarianism, which defines the right action as the one that maximizes utility. With your download, get the 37 best papers relevant to this one, including 18 top related papers. Utilitarianism, game theory, and the social contract daniel burgess i.
From the idea of view of rule utilitarianism, social agreement theory and kantianism, its important to keep up some privacy and confidentiality information to the 3rd party company. For the last part of the paper it asks me to write my defense of the best of the two moral theories. What makes an act right or wrong according to kantianism. To kant this is ideal because the state addresses the wants of the people and not the desires of a. A rational study of the rules of conduct known as morals that describe how people should behave ethical theories subjective relativism cultural relativism divine command theory kantianism act utilitarianism rule utilitarianism social contract theory. What is the difference between kantianism and utilitarianism. Pdf social contract theory by hobbes, locke and rousseau. Utilitarianism, kantian ethics, natural rights theories, and religious ethics a utilitarian argument, in the strict sense, is one what alleges that we ought to do something because it will produce more total happiness than doing anything else would. Utilitarianism takes persons moral status to be grounded on their capacity for wellbeing and suffering, and.
Utilitarianism, kantian ethics, natural rights theories. Social contract theory definition of morality james rachels. Can we separate ideas utilitarianism, social contract. Examining his actions, he was in favor of following the moral instinct of utilitarianism more than any other theory. Separate, selfcontained chapters examine such theories as egoism, kantianism, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and the social contract theory. Kantianism ethics can be defined as the conscious reflection on our moral beliefs with the aim of improving, extending or refining those beliefs in some way. Kantianism a theory is a set of statements used to predict or explain a set. Kant wrote his social and political philosophy in order to champion the enlightenment in general and the idea of freedom in particular. For a major updated social contract theory, youve got to read rawlss theory of justice. Kant views a society under the social contract as a society based on moral laws.
We can override rules and laws in an attempt to save someones life. One of the most influential ethical frameworks, utilitarianism is focused on consequences and results. Through this conceptual framework, the text addresses timely and provocative issues, including abortion, racism, euthanasia, poverty, marijuana, homosexuality, the death penalty, and vegetarianism. We need to save people inside that building though they are a murderer or criminal. Dodds, lecture 2 kantian moral theory and utilitarianism are two theories that attempt to answer the ethical nature of. Kantians believe human life is valuable because humans are the bearers of rational life oneill 414. However, these two philosophies take on different standpoints on ethics. Three general theories of ethics and the integrative role of integrity theory article pdf available in ssrn electronic journal july 2002 with 47,638 reads how we measure reads. Kantianism and utilitarianism have different ways for determining whether an act we do is right or wrong.
The centerpiece of kants deontological sensibility is the prioritization of duties over. In this report, i have assessed 4 theories, act utilitarianism, rule utilitarianism, kantianism, and social contract theory. Virtue ethics utilitarianism from english philosophers jeremy bentham and john stuart mill utilitarianism is based on the principle of utility. The term kantianism or kantian is sometimes also used to describe contemporary positions in philosophy of mind, epistemology, and ethics ethics. According to this theory, the value of an act is to be assessed on the basis of pleasure and pain. Proposed by jeremy bentham and john stuart mill an action is good if it benefits someone. Utilitarianism but which states of affairs are valuable and which states of affairs are not. Utilitarianism, kantianism and social contact theory. However, under utilitarianism, lying is ok if it brings pleasure and happiness to most of the people. Kantianism emphasizes the principles behind actions rather than an actions results. Business philosophy and religion christian ethics analysis kantianism ethical aspects.
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