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Describe the Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarian and Kantian Ethics.

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Describe the strengths and weaknesses of utilitarian and Kantian ethics.

Utilitarianism is a consequence based ethics perspective which makes decisions that promote the greatest overall amount of good

consequences over bad consequences for the greatest number of people in the world. An ethical tradition that directs us to decide based on

overall consequences of our act. It is a cost-benefit analysis that fits with business decision making and into people’s intuitive criteria for

deciding moral problem. It provides an objective and attractive way of resolving conflicts of self-interest.

When most people feel that justice is done, it is easier to implement and defend based on the “common good”. Utilitarianism makes policies for

the benefit of the majority of workers, suppliers and customers; think through a number of “frames” before making a decision and therefore the

quality of the decision making should be higher. However the nature of the consequences is biased as too much focus on ethical ends can lead

to ignoring moral consideration of the means. Eg, if an organization needs satisfy the shareholders hence they retrench 20% randomly so that

80% of staff are kept. But is the financial outcomes the best? It is difficult to evaluate all consequences. For example, through the stakeholder

analysis, the rights and interests of minority is ignored (eg, suppliers) or those who are affected in the future. It is unfair to those who lack

representation or voice in the decision (eg, workers who are retrenched). Lastly, utilitarianism can be used as a defence for genocide, Hitler,

Stalin, Pol Pot etc

Kantiansim focuses on doing what is right than doing what will maximize societal welfare. Kantianism is a duty-based ethical perspective that

makes decisions based upon abstract universal ethical principles. Kantianism is

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