The Consequentialism Debate: Compare and Contrast Deontology and Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism where by the outcome determines the goodness of an act. Based on utilitarianism, an act is regarded to be morally right only if its outcome maximizes on the goodness. Thus when an act brings happiness to the majority it is regarded as right while when it bring sadness to the majority, the act is regarded to be morally wrong. Based on utilitarianism any act that is considered to be morally right should not focus on harming others but adding to their happiness (Kemerling, 2011). On the contrary deontology theory is based on the duty, where by one would act not due to pleasure and pain but because human have the ability to reason and to do what is right based on the laws of the nature. According to deontology, all people have universal sensible duties toward each other, with the main duty being respecting all other humankind. Deontology thus disregards the outcome and focuses more on the duty which one must adhere to, and for an act to be considered right one need to ascertain that it would be right if all individuals in the world consider taking that action. This theory is thus highly based on more responsibility, commitment and duty (Misselbrook, 2013). The two theories seem to differ such that utilitarianism is basically based on the final results, where by it refutes that moral rightness relies directly on anything but consequences, while deontology is based on the rightness of an act despite the end result. Deontology can best be applied in a work environment where duties are prioritized than the final outcome. One is only considered right if he or she acted as anticipated as per the laws of the organization. This theory will play a great role in helping to stick to my lean to maintain my job in the future.

The two theories are similar in that, logically, all selected actsin deontology are done after logical reasoning and thus, they are all morally right and hence they mostly yield to positive outcome. When an act is morally right, the outcome is likely to be pleasing. Thus, despite not considering the consequences, deontology normally result to a positive outcome which is normally assured to majority, in case that selected act was to be applied by all in the world to solve a similar problem. Thus, similar to consequential theory the final outcome is pleasing to the majority and only painful to those who had adopted other unethical ways of handling their life issues.

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