ETHICS: What is Kant’s evaluation of the forward-looking nature of utilitarianis
ID: 381980 • Letter: E
Question
ETHICS: What is Kant’s evaluation of the forward-looking nature of utilitarianism? Where does, for Kant, the moral worth of an action reside? How does one, according to Kant, determine what the right action is within in a certain moral dilemma? Explain, discuss and evaluate. How might a Kantian apporach the following scenario? Explain.
SCENARIO ------
The mood at MacKenzie Academy is tense with anticipation. For the first time in many, many years,
the varsity basketball team has made it to the state semifinals. The community is excited too, and
everyone is making plans to attend the big event next Saturday night.
Jeff, the varsity coach, has been waiting for years to field such a team. Speed, teamwork, balance:
they've got it all. Only one more week to practice, he tells his team, and not a rule can be broken.
Everyone must be at practice each night at the regularly scheduled time: No Exceptions.
Brad and Mike are two of the team's starters. From their perspective, they're indispensable to the
team, the guys who will bring victory to MacKenzie. They decide—why, no one will ever know—to
show up an hour late to the next day's practice.
Jeff is furious. They have deliberately disobeyed his orders. The rule says they should be suspended
for one full week. If he follows the rule, Brad and Mike will not play in the semifinals. But the
whole team is depending on them.
Explanation / Answer
The forward looking nature of Utilitarianism is based on the comparison between consequences of the actions and actions are permissible if the consequences lead to more happiness and least pain for majority of people. But Kant’s theory does not give importance to consequences while evaluating the moral rightness of an action. According to Kant only duty and rules should govern our actions and the consequences are beyond our control. According to Kant moral worthiness of actions resides in actions performed from duty, else the action is unjust whatever the consequences are. Kant does not give any exceptions to moral rules. According to Kant if someone is killed to save the lives of many people, the action is unjust as killing is always against the moral rules.
In the given scenario, the team’s victory depends on Brad and Mike and the whole team’s happiness depends on them. But as per Kantian approach they have broken the rules and failed to perform from their duty by coming late for the practice. Kantian approach does not give consideration to the consequences and hence Jeff should suspend them for one full week and they would not be playing in the semifinals.
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