Analyse and explain the strengths and weaknesses of deontology

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Analyse and explain the strengths and weaknesses of deontology

Deontological ethical theories are those which advocate that to evaluate the morality of an action we should seek to focus not on the consequences of such an action, but on its intrinsic moral value. This is in direct contrast to teleological theories, such as Utilitarianism which hold that moral value is based on the outcome of an action alone. Kantian ethics is one example of such a theory, and it is this approach to deontology that I will examine.

               Kant attempted to establish a moral code based on what he called the “categorical imperative”, which is derived from the principle of duty and is formulated in various ways. The first involves formulating a universal maxim for every ethical decision (for instance, a dilemma on whether to lie to someone for whatever reason would lead to formulating the maxim ‘it is right to lie when you want to’) and then universalising that maxim: "Always act according to that maxim whose universality as a law you can at the same time will". To use the example of lying again, ‘it is right for everyone to lie when they want to’. We must then use our powers of rationality to evaluate whether this would lead to self-contradiction when universalised. Kant postulated that in a world where everyone thought it was ethically permissible to lie, the concept of telling the truth would carry no meaning, since no one would be able to rely on anyone else not to lie at any given point. Hence, the very meaning of the word ‘lie’ would lose all practical value, and it is therefore contradictory to propose using the rule ‘it is right for everyone to lie when they want to’ in such a world. If a maxim cannot be rationally universalised, it is intrinsically wrong and whatever the supposed pragmatic values of such an action in a certain situation, it is ethically impermissible. It is a person’s duty to always follow the categorical imperative.

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                However, JS Mill has claimed that Kant was contradicting himself in first evaluating the consequences of universalising a maxim, and then declaring that this action was therefore good or bad in and of itself. This surely is merely another form of teleology masquerading as deontology, as it is only through assessing the consequences of a certain type of behaviour that Kant reaches a moral conclusion. RM Hare supported this and went so far as to say that the categorical imperative is “simply Utilitarianism put into different words”. He maintained this by arguing ...

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