Utilitarianism and deontology

Utilitarianism and deontology

Utilitarianism and deontology are two prominent ethical theories that lead to an ethical dilemma in making decisions, but even though some lives might be lost, a combination of these theories might produce the best solutions to dilemma cases. The ethical theory of utilitarianism is based on the view that all actions are determined to be right or wrong based on consequences and precisely that which will produce the highest good for the greatest number of people. This theory prefers saving the many, even when it means taking the life of an innocent person. The theory of deontology, on the other hand, has a different ethical view in which at least some actions are considered right or wrong irrespective of the consequences associated with the decision. In solving a problem such as that involving Sarah and Engineer Bill, it leaves an individual in a dilemma of choosing which decision to make. With the help of the two prominent ethical theories of utilitarianism and deontology, Bill can make his decision depending on if he wants to save the many people on the train or Sarah.

In the case of the retired train operator, Engineer Bill, there is a dilemma that faces Bill. A ten years old child named Sarah is stuck between train rails. Bill has two courses as his only alternatives, but each one of them has its consequences, and none is good. If Bill switches the tracks back in the proper direction, he will save the train as well as the one hundred passengers it. Unfortunately, this will kill Sarah. In his second alternative, Bill can choose to let the train go off the cliff, Sarah will survive, but the passengers will die. This dilemma in deciding which is the best course of action for Engineer Bill allows applying the two prominent ethical theories. Under the utilitarianism theory, Bill is expected to switch the tracks in the right direction and save the train and passengers in it even though Sarah will die. This is because the theory supports the alternative that produces the greatest good to the most considerable number of people. Through the use of deontology theory, on the other hand, Bill id expected to save Sarah irrespective of the fact that the one hundred train passenger. The moral responsibility of Bill is to switch the tracks back in the proper direction, which would mean killing Sarah but saving the one hundred train passengers.

A case related to that of Engineer Bill and Sarah is the one in which law allows doctors to kill innocent people to save more people. In this case, doctors are expected to kill one janitor who is found to be compatible with one hundred other janitors with different health problems. The moral responsibility of the doctor on duty is to kill the one janitor whose body organs are compatible with the one hundred other janitors, thus saving the lives of many. This decision is on the basis of utilitarianism and deontology ethical theories. In taking this moral responsibility, the doctor will end up saving the greatest possible number, which is utilitarianism. In addition, the decision is irrespective of consequences in that it might look wrong before the one janitor but right for the one hundred janitors. This case requires the same evaluation as that of Bill because they both need saving the majority while also making a decision that might be considered both right and wrong. Although a dilemma, the situations can be solved through the use of utilitarianism and deontology theories.

The two ethical theories, namely utilitarianism, and deontology have both merits and demerits as well as implications. In both theories, some things are considered common. For example, happiness is an advantage for all the theories since the motive in both is to save a life. The only difference is in the number of people saved since utilitarianism focuses on keeping the greatest number, whereas this is not necessarily true in deontology theory. The implications of utilitarianism theory can be discussed on the basis of what is right, and whose well-being, consequences. According to the ethical theory of utilitarianism, pleasure, or happiness is considered a good thing. This is the reason why it aims at producing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The larger the number of people who end up achieving happiness, the more successful and good this theory is. In addition to being applied for moral decisions, utilitarianism theory is used for deliberations about the interests of different people or a group of people. Lastly, the implications of the theory can well be explained by foreseeable but not actual consequences. The most notable effect of deontology theory is the provision of certainty. This moral theory offers certainty because it is always concerned with the action itself. Additionally, just like in utilitarianism, deontology also gives happiness to the person(s) saved.

In conclusion, despite the fact that it is not good to take a life from an individual, it is inevitable in some situations. This involves a situation where either way, there will be loss of life either of one person or of multiple individuals. In the evaluation of utilitarianism and deontology ethical theories, two cases play essential roles. In the first case, a retired train operator known as Engineer Bill is in the dilemma of saving either a ten-year aged girl named Sarah or one hundred train passengers. In the other scenario, a doctor also finds herself in a predicament of either treating one patient or killing him and using his body organs to save the life of the other one hundred such people. The two ethical theories understudy help in finding the appropriate moral responsibility of each person. The moral responsibility of Bill is to save the passengers on the train’s board even though it means killing Sarah. Likewise, the moral responsibility of the doctor in the second case is to kill the one janitor and save the lives of one hundred others. The theories have implications in terms of what is right, whose well-being, as well as consequences to parties involved.