Essay Sample on the Views of Aristotle, Kant's Deontological Moral Theory and Mill's Utilitarianism

Introduction

The Aristotelian virtue ethics bases itself upon the assessment of the character of humans and not just a simple isolated action. In this view, virtue is a disposition, and human beings are responsible for their choices (Hutchinson 2). These choices are made based on virtue or vice. Once a person makes an upright choice, they have considered virtue to be their foundation. Also, when they make a bad choice, then they were guided by vice. The behavior of a person, according to Aristotle, is, therefore, determined by his virtues.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Based on his arguments, Aristotle saw the development of virtue as the ultimate way to achieve excellent behavior. He is the forebear of character excellence which is has the feature of doing the right thing in the precise mode and at the factual period. He used the term eudaimonia that roughly translates to happiness or well-being to describe how a man of virtue feels as a result of having their actions guided by virtue (Kristjansson 15). In his argument, therefore, virtue is achieved through practice, and it is a means to becoming good and not just merely something that someone has to know. The right step to take, therefore, depends on the situation that the person finds himself in and not only the application of law (Heinaman 53). A person must, also, therefore, exercise prudence in his dealings.

According to Aristotle's theory, then, the right thing to do would be to save the life of the man. Saving the life of a drowning man is, by all means, a practice of virtue because it is not rational to let a person die. The rational soul is what differentiates humans from other species and allowing the man in question to die is not feeding the self on virtue and is not per reason and the ultimate aim of human life. By saving the drowning man, the virtuous man will become comfortable with coming to the rescue of other people who may need help in the future, and this will give the savior a sense of satisfaction. Additionally, the savior will intuitively know how to act when presented with such other possibilities in the future. On the other hand, when the person that intends to save the drowning man, for instance, does not know how to swim, then he will have to practice prudence which means that he will have to find a way to save the man without jeopardizing his well-being.

Kant’s Deontological Moral Theory

Kant's view on whether an action is right or wrong depends on the performance of duty. The morality of an action is, therefore, based on whether it is right or wrong according to the rules. In the case of Kant, therefore, the action is more important than the consequence and what makes the action either right or wrong is the motivation with which it is undertaken (Barrow).

Kant also argues that the highest good, in any case, must be good in itself, which means that it has to be intrinsically good. He also adds that the highest good must be good without qualification which means that the action in question should not make the situation any worse ethically. What we usually think is good, therefore, may fail to be right in some cases, for instance, pleasure. A person may take pleasure in watching the suffering of another person, but this does not make the sufferer's situation better and only makes the situation ethically worse. From the analysis conducted, Kant concludes that nothing is outstanding and good without qualification except a good will. He then argues that the consequences of an action cannot be used to determine whether the person had goodwill because good outcomes can come as a result of a bad will and vice versa. Having goodwill is, therefore, essential because it means that the person is acting out of respect for moral law which is a duty that they have. The aspect which determines whether an action is wrong, therefore, is the will of the person acting.

Kant would, therefore, say that the person is to be saved because that is goodwill on his part. By not saving the man, it will lead to him drowning, which is a negative consequence but in his view, this is not important because it is merely a consequence. However, having goodwill that intends to save his life is the right thing to do, no matter the results that will arise. Even if the person who is saving the drowning man's life drowns too, his goodwill is what will count and not the fact that he drowned.

Mill's Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill in his theory of utilitarianism argues that an action is moral if it produces the right kind of consequences. When, therefore, an activity promotes overall human happiness, then it is the right step to take. On the other hand, in case it produces the unhappiness, then it is not moral (Ryan 19). He counts the achievement of goals such as living virtuously as happiness. Mill, therefore, views happiness as the highest form of good that humans aspire to achieve. It is in man's social nature to want to be happy, and when there is anything else other than happiness that a man wants, then it is either part of the definition of happiness or is a way through which happiness can be achieved. In his view, perceptions such as impartiality when analyzed expansively are formed by utility. Mill further feels that rights exist because they are essential for human happiness.

Utilitarianism emphasizes on overall good, which means that it is not only the happiness of the person in question that should be considered but that of other people as well. It should, therefore, be recognized that the action that is to be taken in the case of the drowning man is one which produces the maximum good/happiness. The theory is based on impartiality, and each person's happiness is essential. It would, therefore, be wise to save the drowning man in this case because once he is saved, then all the philosophers and the drowning man will be happy about saving a life. However, when he is left to drown, life will be lost, and the happiness of all the individuals present shall be compromised.

The theory that would compel me to act and save the drowning man is Kant's deontological theory. His theory stipulates that goodwill is an ultimate good which in my view, holds water. As a person that has a will to save the life of the drowning man, I thus would be doing the right thing by all means.

Works Cited

Barrow, Jennifer M., and William G. Gossman. "Deontology." StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, 2017.

Heinaman, Robert A. Aristotle and moral realism. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2018, p. 53.

Hutchinson, Douglas S. The virtues of Aristotle. Routledge, 2015, p. 2.

Kristjansson, Kristjan. Aristotle, emotions, and education. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2016, p. 15

Ryan, Alan. JS Mill (Routledge Revivals). 3rd ed., Routledge, 2016, p. 19