Deontology and Utilitarianism Essay - 1340 Words

Describe the main principles of the two normative ethical theories of deontology and utilitarianism. Compare and contrast the two theories, bringing out any problems or limitations you see in each. INTRODUCTION:- Bioethicists ask these questions in the context of modern medicine and draw on a plurality of traditions, both secular and religious, to help society understand and keep pace with how advances in science and medical technology can change the way we experience the meaning of health and illness and, ultimately, the way we lve. Bioethics is multidisciplinary. It blends law, philosophy, insights from the humanities and medicine to bear on the the complex interaction of human life, science, and technology. Although its†¦show more content†¦Kant believes that all people come to moral conclusions about right and wrong based on rational thought. Deontological moral systems are characterized by a focus upon adherence to independent moral rules or duties. To make the correct moral choices, we have to understand what our moral duties are and what correct rules exist to regulate those duties. When we follow our duty, we are behaving morally. When we fail to follow our duty, we are behaving immorally. Deontological moral systems typically stress the reasons why certain actions are performed. Simply following the correct moral rules is often not sufficient; instead, we have to have the correct motivations. This might allow a person to not be considered immoral even though they have broken a moral rule, but only so long as they were motivated to adhere to some correct moral duty. Nevertheless, a correct motivation alone is never a justification for an action in a deontological moral system and cannot be used as a basis for describing an action as morally correct. It is also not enough to simply believe that something is the correct duty to follow. Duties and obligations must be determined objectively and absolutely, not subjectively. There is no room in deon tological systems of subjective feelings; on the contrary, most adherents condemn subjectivism and relativism in all their forms. Perhaps the most significant thing to understand about deontological moral systems isShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism And Deontology1059 Words   |  5 PagesUtilitarianism and Deontology are challenged in Watchmen, Adrian and Rorschach are both opposites of each other, as you can see during the film. Killing millions of innocents to save billions and maintain peace, while Rorschach believes in punishing the bad NOT the innocent. The Watchmen contains lots of violence regarding the usage of Utilitarianism and Deontology. Rorschach uses his strict rule of being moral. He will not and never change the way he views the city he lives in. He will always doRead MoreThe Between Utilitarianism And Deontology1345 Words   |  6 Pagesof Deontology, along with Jeremy Bentham and James Mills, the founders of Utilitarianism, all attempted to answer this question. Be ntham and Mills’ Utilitarianism stresses maximizing pleasure and happiness in the world over pain and unhappiness. In contrast, Kant’s Deontology focuses on honoring duties and obligations. A moral action must be â€Å"considered right and good by most people† (Merriam-Webster). The way Kant proposes that one achieves happiness is overall superior to Utilitarianism becauseRead MoreThe Ethics, Utilitarianism And Deontology1891 Words   |  8 PagesIn this assignment I am going to using my class notes and hand outs to describe what ethics, utilitarianism and deontology is. I will then be explaining the arguments between organ donation and transplantation. Lastly I will be identifying the rights of individual patients the responsibilities they have. 1.1 Ethics are moral principles that affect how people make decisions and live their lives. Ethics focuses on what is the good for individuals and society. Ethics are involved in how to live a goodRead MoreCompare and Contrast Utilitarianism and Deontology622 Words   |  3 PagesCompare and contrast utilitarianism and deontology. Utilitarianism is the principle that the correct form of action be taken to benefit the greatest number of people. Deontology is defined as the area of ethics involving the responsibility, moral duty and commitment. Both utilitarianism and deontology deal with the ethics and consequences of one’s actions and behavior despite the outcome. To contrast utilitarianism and deontology, utilitarianism summarized is making the right decision followedRead MoreArgument For Criticizing Utilitarianism And Deontology1138 Words   |  5 PagesBenny Mutoni Ethics Society Instructor: Joseph John Argument for criticizing utilitarianism and deontology In this paper, I will discuss various ethical courses of action during ethical dilemmas. I will be examining how utilitarians and deontologists use different approaches to solve ethical dilemmas, by citing the text â€Å"Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues† and views of philosophers such as John Stuart Mill, Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham. Using these, I will develop an argumentRead MoreEthical Dilemmas Of Utilitarianism And Deontology1368 Words   |  6 PagesAndrew Sponsler 11/4/15 Ethics Considering Ethical Dilemmas through Utilitarianism and Deontology Kant’s theory of deontology and Mill’s theory of utilitarianism provide starkly different approaches to assigning moral value to ethical dilemmas, two modern dilemmas being commercial surrogacy and physician-assisted suicide. This essay will expound upon the process of deciding moral value within each ethical theory and then apply this decision process to the two ethical dilemmas. Arguments will beRead MoreUtilitarianism And Deontology And The Trolley Problem1483 Words   |  6 Pagesconsequences, based on what is right and wrong. In this paper I will be assessing the Trolley Problem in relation to Utilitarianism and Deontology and will conclude which theory is the best way to behave given the situation. In the first paragraph, I will begin by discussing the Trolley Problem followed by the next paragraph’s which will explaining how Utilitarianism and Deontology would approach the situation. Furthermore, I will be discussing which theory I believe is right in re gards to the bestRead MoreUtilitarianism, Deontology, And Virtue Ethics835 Words   |  4 Pageswas merely to determine what is right and wrong in certain situations. Although, after learning about Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Virtue Ethics, I have realized that certain characteristics of each play a role in determining what ethics truly are. Utilitarianism characterizes the definition of ethics, by making all choices have the greatest positive impact, while minimizing the risk. Deontology on the other hand would rather we not get involved because there is never a justifiable means to an endRead MoreThe Ethical Theories Of Deontology And Utilitarianism1414 Words   |  6 Pagesso how the ethical theories of Deontology and Utilitarianism plays a part and how the ethical perspective Emotivism also plays a part. Theories and Perspective Deontology is the reason for which the act is done and the rule according to which one chooses to act (Mosser, 2013). It doesn’t deny that the acts that we do have consequences (Mosser, 2013). It insists that those roles should not play a part in our moral evaluation of such acts (Mosser, 2013). Utilitarianism is a natural way to see whetherRead MoreUtilitarianism, Deontology, And Virtue Ethics1586 Words   |  7 Pagesunacceptable by our society because many United States organizations are starting to work together to stop these intolerable acts to end the suffering and pain. Ethical theories are categorized into three groups: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics (Mosser, 2013). Utilitarianism is a system of ethical choices according to the rightness or wrongness of an action that should be judged by its consequences (Mosser, 2013). This type of philosophy suggests that an action is morally right if its