Question

"Try to put yourself in the position of "Janice," a single mother of four children. Janice is divorced, unemployed and living in a shelter with her children. She has a low paying job and is saving money to afford rent in a cheap apartment, but the struggle seems unending. And, she has medical bills as well as a sick mother, who also has very little money and is sick.

Janice sees an attractive, young woman dressed in expensive designer clothes emerge from a Tesla electric car--which she knows costs around $90,000. The woman's wallet falls from her purse to the ground, but the woman does not notice it.

Janice scoops up the wallet up and discovers that it is stuffed with hundred-dollar bills, at least ten to fifteen thousand dollars worth. She has only an instant to decide whether to chase after the woman or slip the wallet into her own purse."

Explain how the TWO of following approaches apply to this case:

Kantan moral theory

Utilitarianism

Answer 1

According to Kantian ethics, one has to fulfill one's duty without worrying about the outcome. In this place, it's Janice's moral responsibility to hand the purse over to the woman who is the rightful owner.

Utilitarian ethics suggests that any action is considered as ethical of it increases utility or benefit to many and reduce harm. In this case Janice can have the purse as it would help her and her family at home while it's not going to do any harm to the rich women.

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