Kant Vs. Utilitarian on Moral Dilemma
In one of Kant’s publications, The Groundwork, we are exposed to divergence of four classifications of duty. These four classifications are then divided into two divisions: duties to oneself and duties to others, including both imperfect and perfect duties. To clarify, one can say that perfect duties are actions, which when violated, can be a cause for moral blameworthy, and imperfect duties thus being those, which when fulfilled, are praiseworthy. However these duties are also very direct and they require proper judgment.
In an analysis if Dilemma number seven titled, “Size does not matter when it comes to animal suffering,” one is exposed to the idea that the size of an animal should not determine whether it is more right to butcher it. The article introduces an example of Australians butchering cows for beef, and the Japanese butchering whales for sushi meat. According to the Japanese, they should also be allowed to butcher whale for sushi meat because Australians butcher cows for beef. However, the article then addresses the details about how these whales go through excruciating pain while they are being butchered. Under Kant’s interpretation, this would be a perfect duty to others, I will explain this further.
To expand, Kant would say that both parties are currently hunting these animals. However, is one animal more justified to die than the other? Kant’s universal principle of freedom states, “that an action is right only if on it’s maxim the freedom of choice of each can coexist with everyone’s freedom in accordance with a universal law.” Therefore, whale-hunting for sushi meat in Japan would not be acceptable for Kant on the basis that not everyone can equally express their freedom, or in this case, their favoring of whale meat. However, one can also say the same for the butchering of cows, as not everyone agrees with the butchering of cows. Getting back to the other point, Kant would say that in order to make this perfect for all, both cows and whales should not be hunted for meat, in order to keep both respective parties equally content thus satisfying the original “perfect duty for others,” as defined in The Groundwork. Utilitarianism takes another stance on this dilemma.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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