Kant vs Bentham Essay

Throughout the realm of philosophy in that respect take aim been many arguments on the approximateing of moral philosophy and what motivates human genius and guides our judgments. I provide be focusing on two philosophers two of whom tried to answer that question. Jeremy Bentham whose views on what should be used to guide our judgments as to whats molest or flop have been defined as utilitarianism. Focusing on a different idea using morals and a sense of duty to the greater slap-up comes, Immanuel Kants ethics of deontology, or the ethics of rules and duties.Jeremy Benthams ideas of utilitarianism focus on the experiences of joyousness everywhere pain. To Bentham utility is the property in any object that tends to produce benefit, good, pleasure or happiness or prevent the happening of pain/evil, or unhappiness to the party where interest is con arrayred. Kant on the other hand uses what he called imperatives to decide what should be considered morally regenerate. The imperative, the law or choice moldiness be respected, no matter what consequences come from the choice.Also Kant looks at it this way, if the act in and of itself could be placed into a law for the morals of the people. Bentham So Immanuel, ar you saying that in order for a person to be moral that he has to possess his or her own free will? Kant Yes Jeremy that is correct, your idea that morality dope be dictated by a government or a legal age of the people is ridiculous. Bentham Youre unseasonable on that account Immanuel because human kind is evil in genius so they have a hard time deciding what is overcompensate and vilify so we need rules to govern us to make the right decisions.Kant Even though those rights may infringe on our personal beliefs? Our individuation is what makes us human, whole Bentham You are wrong about that, the greater good is what is important, so what if a minority of the people is left out, it is important that the majority is happy, then and onl y then will it matter. Kant No, as a human, we burn down govern ourselves. We have the hold outledge within us to make the right or wrong choices we do non need a bureaucrat sitting behind a desk somewhere to make that choice for us.Bentham Your idea of the use of morality sickens me Immanuel. You sit here on your high vaulting horse saying that if you decide that, oh let us just say sidesplitting is wrong, and someone breaks into your home and starts to rape or murder your wife or child then you are going to stand back and do nothing Kant If I have made that decision that killing is wrong then yes, I will have to stand by that choice. Bentham You know Kant, I think you would ignore that choice and you would defend your household because it is for the greater good of your family.Kant Well we will have to cross that bridge when we situate at that place want we. So Benth old pal, you tell everyone that pure ethics are not practical, that you have to arrange things so it will h armonious with human nature, why is that? Bentham Because my friend, humans are in general interchangeable animals. We are instinctive and act on emotions we need to have rules and regulations to retain us on the straight and narrow. Just knowing that there are consequences to our actions keep us in line, wouldnt you say?Kant No, I think people have a working knowledge of what is right and what is wrong we do not need rules to keep us in line, which once again, we can do those ourselves, unless, of course, a person is criminally insane and they cant distinguish between the two actions. Kant So then if your wheels are stuck in mud on this and keep spinning, how then do you see gentleman in general? Bentham Humans, by nature, are as follows. We are egotistical and greedy, pleasure seeking, out for themselves, and in general not very trustworthy.Kant So you put me and you in those categories Jeremy? Bentham Well we are human are we not Immanuel? Kant You are impossible Jeremy I am done having this conversation with you Immanuel it is resembling talking to brick wall. Bentham You know you enjoyed it Mr. Kant, and I bet we will talk again real soon. Morality and ethics are different for all of us, and I view that Kant makes some good points, and Bentham has some good points but there are flaws in both. We all face choices in our lives sometimes they are dictated by the situation or opportunity.If a gunman walked into a crowded store, would I take the gunman down to save lives place my life in jeopardy, would I tell him the police are on their way even though I may be lie? Kant follows a strict path, one that he may have disordered if faced with a certain situation, we are human of course, and this is where I side with Bentham. Being a former law officer I have seen good and bad in this world and I do believe that we do need rules to govern us, even though we might not agree with the all.