Question

1. Compare and contrast an ethical system based on evaluating the utility of one’s actions (utilitarianism) versus an ethical system based on respect for persons (one’s duty to others in consideration of their rational nature; deontology).

2. Describe a situation in which ethical analyses using these systems lead to conflicting conclusions and describe your method of achieving a meaningful resolution.

Answer 1

Utilitarians believe t in the thought hat the purpose of morality is to make life improved by increasing the amount of good things (such as pleasure and happiness) in the world and decreasing the amount of bad things (such as pain and unhappiness). They reject moral codes or systems or ethical system that consist of commands or taboos that are based on customs, traditions, or orders given by leaders or supernatural beings. Instead, utilitarians think that what makes a morality be true or justifiable is its positive contribution to human (and perhaps non-human) beings.