Bill and Linda are happily married, however, for the past few months Bill has been carrying on an extramarital affair without Linda’s knowledge. If Linda were to find out about his affair, she would almost certainly be devastated and end their marriage. Bill is also almost certain that Linda would never find out about his affair unless he tells her himself. Considering this scenario, I will discuss how both Mill and Kant would advise Bill in this situation, based on their respective theories of Utilitarianism and the Formula of Universal Law. Further, I will support that Kant's advice to Bill is closer to being the right choice morally than that of Mill.
In order to more precisely evaluate how Mill and Kant’s theories apply, I will further …show more content…
While both philosophers make an attempt at giving advice for Bill’s moral dilemma, Kant gives the closest advice to what is right. With Mill’s theory of Utilitarianism there are multiple different scenarios that Bill could choose from which would be in accordance with Mill’s advice. This isn’t direct and doesn’t give enough guidance in terms of what Bill should definitively do. On the other hand, Kant’s advice could only lead to one solution which is in accordance with the Formula of Universal Law. Kant’s advice is also easier to apply due to the practicality of their only being one outcome which is right. This is stronger guidance for Bill and leads to the most happiness in this situation while it also remains in accordance with his duties as a husband. In order to better understand this case I will compare it to the scenario of a student cheating on a test. If said student were to follow Mill's advice then they would either (1) study for the test and not cheat on it or (2) cheat on the test but be careful enough not to get caught. Either case would result in the same outcome of doing well on the test and consequently would result in a maximization of the student’s happiness, since people are happy when they perform well. Since the student may choose from highly conflicting actions, but still have them result in the same good consequence, this suggests that incompatible actions can result in the same goodness. This would further suggest that when following Mill’s theory of Utilitarianism, right or wrong is more so accidental and depends on the world instead of depending on an individual's awareness of the situation. If the student were to follow Kant’s advice, then they must follow along with their duties as a student while also performing through a maxim which they could will to be universalized. In this case the student must study for
In order to more precisely evaluate how Mill and Kant’s theories apply, I will further …show more content…
While both philosophers make an attempt at giving advice for Bill’s moral dilemma, Kant gives the closest advice to what is right. With Mill’s theory of Utilitarianism there are multiple different scenarios that Bill could choose from which would be in accordance with Mill’s advice. This isn’t direct and doesn’t give enough guidance in terms of what Bill should definitively do. On the other hand, Kant’s advice could only lead to one solution which is in accordance with the Formula of Universal Law. Kant’s advice is also easier to apply due to the practicality of their only being one outcome which is right. This is stronger guidance for Bill and leads to the most happiness in this situation while it also remains in accordance with his duties as a husband. In order to better understand this case I will compare it to the scenario of a student cheating on a test. If said student were to follow Mill's advice then they would either (1) study for the test and not cheat on it or (2) cheat on the test but be careful enough not to get caught. Either case would result in the same outcome of doing well on the test and consequently would result in a maximization of the student’s happiness, since people are happy when they perform well. Since the student may choose from highly conflicting actions, but still have them result in the same good consequence, this suggests that incompatible actions can result in the same goodness. This would further suggest that when following Mill’s theory of Utilitarianism, right or wrong is more so accidental and depends on the world instead of depending on an individual's awareness of the situation. If the student were to follow Kant’s advice, then they must follow along with their duties as a student while also performing through a maxim which they could will to be universalized. In this case the student must study for