ipl-logo

Comparing Mill's Conception Of Kantian Ethics And John Stuart Mill

426 Words2 Pages

Every day, we are faced with situations that require us to make difficult decisions. We often ask ourselves, “What is the right thing to do?” Two of the most influential thinkers in the history of Philosophy, John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant, each have a competing system of ethics, with the goal of setting forth the first principles of morality. Kantian ethics was based entirely on the “good will.” According to Kant, morality consists of duty, reason, and freedom—pleasure and pain is irrelevant. He believes that happiness and morality do not go hand-in-hand. Kant’s duty-based ethics revolved around the idea of the “categorical imperative”, which states, “always act in such a way that the maxim of your action can be universalized. The categorical imperative offers no conditions; it is relevant always and it is absolutely and …show more content…

His basis for morality is not entirely based on reason, whereas, Kant’s basis for morality is solely based on reason. In addition, Mill’s basis for morality has a social context, whereas, Kant’s does not. He takes into account the complexity of our situations and of human nature (e.g. our conscience). Mill doesn’t think pleasure and pain is irrelevant to morality. In fact, he thinks that happiness is pleasure and the absence of pain. Mill’s system of ethics, Utilitarianism, is focused on promoting the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Mill evaluates the moral actions in favor of the quality of the consequences that ensue. For Mill, an action is right insofar as its consequences yield the most happiness. Mill is arguing for ethical good, he is more concerned with the objective consequences instead of the quality of the will of the agent. The scope of his morality encompasses sentient beings. Mill’s system of ethics is a socially constructed reality, offering an external perspective of the greatest harmony between you and your fellow human

Show More
Related

Moral Philosophy: Crusius And Kant

5639 Words | 23 Pages

Critiques of Kantian moral philosophy on the basis of emptiness come from a variety of thinkers and from many different schools of thought. For example, Mill claims the universal law permits commonly immoral behavior and can only become consistent by resorting to Utilitarianism. ‘ ‘All he shows is that the consequences of their universal adoption would be such as no one would choose to incur’’ (Mill.Uti.162). Mill criticizes Kant for failing to identify ‘‘the actual duties of morality’’ (Mill.

Read More

Rizzo Personal Statement

2151 Words | 9 Pages

INTRO A senior marketing major with a concentration in management I, John Rizzo, see myself in many leadership roles in the future. As an athlete my whole life and someone who typically isn’t afraid to speak in groups and voice my opinions, I believe I have many skills necessary to lead.

Read More

Honors Ethics: Kant Vs. Mill

825 Words | 4 Pages

Evan Bakker Prof. Cole Philosophy 1CH 15 May 2015 Honors Ethics Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher who lived 1724-1804, and John Stuart Mill, a British philosopher who lived 1806-1873, were two of the greatest moral philosophers of all time. Mill presents and defends the moral theory of Utilitarianism while Kant rejects that theory and defends his own moral theory. Kant explains and defends his claims in a selection titled “The Good Will and The Categorical Imperative,” and Mill in the first two chapters in his selection titled “Utilitarianism.” Both philosophers have opposing viewpoints on whether or not an agent’s motive affects the moral worth of an action. Kant’s view proposes that an agent’s motive does affect the moral worth of his or her action, and Mill’s view proposes that an agent’s motive does not affect the moral worth of his or her action.

Read More

Groundwork For Metaphysic Of Morals By Immanuel Kant

561 Words | 3 Pages

Immanuel Kant, a renowned philosopher, reflected upon the fundamental question of ethics concerning what makes a moral action wrong or right. In the “Groundwork for Metaphysic of Morals” by Kant, he claims that the only thing good is without qualification is “the good will.” Kant’s idea/belief highlights the essence of moral intentions and duty over self-interest or external factors, but it overlooks the importance of outcomes and consequences in determining moral goodness. His ideology sparks philosophical discourse, which leads to varied ethical perspectives regarding moral intention versus the outcomes of determining moral goodness. According to Kant, an act is considered good if done from moral duty and is not influenced by personal desires or external factors.

Read More

Comparing Mill And Kant's Theories

714 Words | 3 Pages

Mill describes utilitarianism like a hypothesis depend on the basis that if people tend to behave like promoting happiness, it would be a true

Read More

Groundwork For The Metaphysics Of Morals By Immanuel Kant

1433 Words | 6 Pages

While some may genuinely and consciously strive to act morally and in alignment with the good will, it might be hard to make the best decision in every instance that life throws one’s way. In his book, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant provides his wisdom and works through his view on the institution of moral philosophy and its relations to aspects of human life by providing a formula defined by the categorical imperative. This formula serves as a guide in moral decision-making and establishes a universal

Read More

Mill Versus Kant

1536 Words | 7 Pages

John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant were two philosophers who focused on the concept of ethics, “moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior” (Ethics). Mill was born in London, United Kingdom on May 20, 1806 and lived his life as a philosopher, author, scholar, and economist until his death on May 8, 1873. Kant was before Mill’s time, born on April 22, 1724 and was a well known philosopher before his death on February 12, 1804, just over two years before Mill’s birth. In particular, the two philosophers focused on how to determine what is morally right when faced with a situation. However, they used very different theories in order to conclude moral obligation in different circumstances.

Read More

Comparing Kant's The Good Will And The Categorical Imperative

471 Words | 2 Pages

Ava Schilsky PHIL 1001H Dr. Colette 4 March 2023 Immanuel Kant’s “The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative” explores the nature of morality and good will with use of allegories and philosophical explanations. He argues that “good will” is the only inherently good thing in the world; unlike “power, riches, honor, and even health,” good will is incorruptible. In contradiction to consequentialism, Kant asserts that the morality of an action is decided by the intentions behind it rather than the consequences. Additionally, this German philosopher makes the distinction between two different impetus for action: either out of respect for the moral law or out of respect for a duty or obligation.

Read More

Immanuel Kant's Groundwork Of The Metaphysics Of Morality

753 Words | 4 Pages

Dimitris Lykouris, Katarina Mihaljević, Mats Lodenstijn Ethics (700211) hand-out seminar October 8th, 2014 Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) Immanuel Kant Introduction In this paper we will try to introduce the main idea as presented in chosen chapters of Kant's work. For better understanding, it is important to note that his line of argumentation does not start with main hypothesis which is further explicated, rather, Kant uses analytical a priori method (tries to see what follows from the concepts such as good will, duty etc.) and tries to establish the justification of Categorical Imperative. Nevertheless, we will start with the main hypothesis, from where we will turn to the main concepts and divisions behind it.

Read More

How Does Kant Contribute To A Good Will

1107 Words | 5 Pages

Immanuel Kant gives an interesting argument to the foundations of practical reason and how it leads to a “good will”. According to Kant, to will is to find a means to an end, acting to gain some reward or satisfaction for individual desire. He discusses his moral principle of a good will as being the only thing that is “good without qualification.” It is good because of the act of willing itself, such as the act of saving someone’s life. This is good without limitation because it is promoting life and happiness.

Read More

Ethical Issues In The Film Groundhog Day

1360 Words | 6 Pages

The concept of ethics entails systemizing, justifying, and recommending right and wrong conduct. It involves in practical reasoning: good, right, duty, obligation, virtue, freedom, rationality, and choice. Humanity has questioned this concept of ethics and ‘good’ for as long as it has survived, as it deals with real-life issues such as “what is morally right and wrong?” and “how do people ought to act?”

Read More

John Stuart Mill The Harm Principle

874 Words | 4 Pages

His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant” (P.9). The need for humans to progress morally comes down to the ability for that individual to have freedom over their thoughts and expressions. However, Mill argues that this can be infringed upon she the scope of words and actions of one individual begins to interfere with the rights of others. It must contain three elements, one it must be other-regarding meaning that the harm must only apply to others and not yourself. Second, there needs to be tangibility that comes not just from words, but from actions.

Read More

Theories Of Utilitarianism, Kantianism, And Aristotelianism

1163 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout history many great philosophers have attempted to unravel the origins of virtues by developing moral theories of their own. This document is designed to provide the reader with an overview of some of the more popular theories concerning morals. Three of the most popular moral theories are… Utilitarianism, Kantianism, and Aristotelianism. Though Utilitarianism, Kantianism, and Aristotelianism differ in many ways, they also share similar fundamentals. Utilitarianism is a highly acclaimed theory that is morally based on consequentialism.

Read More

Kant's Absolute View Of Human Morality

711 Words | 3 Pages

In this essay I will explore Kant’s absolute view of the human moral. Kant uses examples to explain what it means to be moral, and if that moral behavior is universal. Kant argues that in order for an action to be considered good, all its intentions must be good as well. We undertake tasks because we think they will serve as a moral duty. Kant argues that a moral law that is almost innate in all of us holds us all—there is an unwritten code that most of us try and follow.

Read More

Basic Principle Deontological Analysis

929 Words | 4 Pages

Kant believes that most people know right from wrong; the problem most people have is not in knowing what is morally, but in doing it. Kant also argued that rightness or wrongness of particular acts is determined by rules; these rules could be determined by his principle of universalizability. He also argued reason require not only that moral duties be universal but also absolutely binding. For instance, when lying is the only option to save someone’s life, still we shall not lie for it is morally wrong to lie. Kant introduced categorical imperative which states that people ought to do something regardless of the consequences.

Read More

More about Comparing Mill's Conception Of Kantian Ethics And John Stuart Mill

Related Topics

Open Document