Utilitarianism And Deontology In The Place Beyond The Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines tells a story of legacy, the unintended consequences of actions, and the concept that the choices we make can go on to affect generations long after we are gone. Each character in the film is faced with moral dilemmas and each character makes unethical decisions. However, even with their faults, there are attempts made by each character to do the right thing. The philosophical theories of utilitarianism and deontology can be most closely linked to the thought processes and decisions made by the characters in the film. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that views the outcome of one’s actions as a better measure of morality than the intentions behind those actions. Deontology, however, views the motive behind

Upon rekindling with her, he finds out that the two have a son together which inspires him to become a provider for the two of them. Luke grew up without a father figure and he is troubled because of this, and this is what drives him to be a present father to his own child and ensure that he provides him with a better life than what he ended up with. He leaves his life as a stuntman and begins working part-time for Robin Van Der Hook, a mechanic. He pleads Robin for more work opportunities, but he is unable to offer it and instead reveals his past as a bank robber and suggests the two of them should work together to commit robberies. Luke is hesitant at first, but ultimately, he accepts the offer because he feels that it will give him the best opportunity to provide for Romina and his son. His morals are flawed, but his intentions are pure. Those intentions are to provide for his family, but he is making the unethical choice of stealing to do this. Deontology exemplifies the morals of Luke. His principles, although flawed, are telling him that, in order to give his child a better life than the one he had, he must steal to be able to provide for him. Immanuel Kant, the philosopher most closely associated with the theories of deontology, believed strongly in goodwill as a testament to true

The theory operates by the belief that “actions are right insofar as they promote happiness, and wrong insofar as they promote unhappiness” (Westacott). By this reasoning, the actions of Luke to steal money to support his family could be considered ethical because he is thinking of more than only himself. Although the action itself is unethical, Luke believes that the result would produce happiness for Romina and his son. Unfortunately, even though Luke’s intentions are to provide better lives for Romina and his son, by making the risky choices that he does, he ends up causing the two of them more pain than he ever thought he would. A common theme in The Place Beyond the Pines shows that intentions do not reflect the consequences of actions. Luke intends to give his son the father he did not have, but instead his life ends abruptly, and his son is left fatherless just as he was, thus continuing the cycle of pain unintentionally. Although there are aspects of utilitarianism that align with Luke’s actions, he is more closely connected to the philosophies of deontology. Deontology pays greater focus to the intentions and the principles a person stands behind rather than the result that comes from the