What is the difference between Kantian ethics and Utilitarian ethics?

Answer 1

Kant believed in moral obligations or what is termed "categorical imperatives." Suppose you borrowed money from a friend and promised to re-pay the loan on a given date. But then, unexpectedly, the person who loaned you the money, dies. Are you morally obligated to re-pay the loan or make restitution to the next of kin? Kant would argue that morality requires you to re-pay the loan, even though it is not to your benefit. Kant believed people are never to be treated as "means to an end" (that is, people should never be used for the furtherance of some selfish goal or treated as mere objects). People are to be respected as free and rational moral agents. Kant believed that if one looks simply at "benefit maximization" or the consequences of one's act, then one will end up treating people as objects (ie., acting immorally). Kant's guiding principle was a version of the Golden Rule -- or "do unto others as you would have others do unto you." Thus, if you don't like being lied to, then don't lie to others.

Utilitarianism is based on examining the consequences of any act with the merits of an act being determined by the maxim "the greatest good for the greatness number." Thus, determining whether or not one should tell a lie depends on the consequences. Suppose a doctor suspects that if a patient on the emergency ward is told his true condition (death is imminent), his patient will die. Thus, the doctor lies and tells the patient, "Hang in there, you'll recover."

Answer 2

Is this your university homework? Rsrsrsrrs...

Kidding.

Well, first you shall have as clear as possibe what a utilitarian ethics is as well as what the kantian ethics is.

After, you'll see that "utilitarian" word, in this sense, does not mean something that consists in utility (practical usage of an instrument).

And then, you'll get your answer. And we, here, won't need to answer that. But differently, we wil discuss your conclusions and your references.

Any way, questioning is a good begining.

Any way, the kantian ethics: do what your racionality says to be done; the utilitarian ethics: do what goes to the side of the well-fare of the community, even though it is not what your mind tell you to do.

This second always tries to maximize the utility for the people. It is very common in Politics, where the projects, social rights..., have always to do the best for the majority.


ie - B r a z i l

Answer 3

Virtue Ethics: -Aristotle -Character based -One actively confronts a passive emotion in the appropriate manner based on who that one is and what the situation calls for in order to do the right thing. Kantian Ethics: -Kant -Reason based -One does the right thing when one can take the action at hand, make that action the universal right action, and wills this action to take place every time the situation occurs. Utilitarian Ethics: -Mill -Consequences based -One does the right thing when one brings about the most good to the most people in the short and long run. ***This is a very brief explanation. All of these theories get more confusing and aren't as clear cut as this, but these are the basics***

Answer 4

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RE:
What is the difference between Kantian ethics and Utilitarian ethics?

Answer 5

What Is Kantian Ethics

Answer 6

Utilitarian ethics say the most moral and most good ethic or action is the one that uses the greatest utility, or rather, the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Kant refers to doing something good because it is good, refering more to the methodology, it's sort of like the difference between dentological thinking and teleological thinking.

Answer 7

Kant says you do good because you have a duty to do good; the consequences are totally irrelevant.

Utilitarian says that the good consequences are what make something good.

Answer 8

Well, ethics is an easier topic to speak about than type about, here are some examples of ethics...

http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=irishdictator

Answer 9

doing good irrespective of consequences - Kant.
good deeds give good consequences. - Utilitarian
ethics.