Kantian Ethics And Communitarian Ethics Essay - 1448 Words

Humans were created as rational beings with the capacity to think and feel. Sometimes, we are placed in situations where our morals are tested and it becomes too difficult to differentiate between what is good and what we want; to understand what is deemed morally acceptable and how that relates to our desires. Is it acceptable to steal, if your intentions are good? In order to answer this question, I will analyze two concepts: Kantian Ethics and Communitarian Ethics. Using Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine by Bonnie Steinbock, Alex London, and John Arras, I will explain both concepts and their understanding of moral reasoning. Focusing on categorical imperatives and the universality test, I will explain Kantian ethics in reference to the good will. I will then explain Communitarian ethics in reference to collectivism. Using both ethical concepts, I will come to a conclusion for these approaches in the moral dilemma about stealing, focusing primarily on Kantian ethics, which I believ e to have a better grasp of what is morally correct, and why it is a good interpretation of moral reasoning. I will use both approaches to explain why it is always good to do the right thing and not necessarily what is right for an individual. I will then explain why Kantian ethics has a more correct approach to moral decision in comparison to communitarian ethics. Kantian Ethics defines the good as good will, which aligns with actions that promote intrinsic good. Actions can only be good ifShow MoreRelatedMorality via Kant and Hegel1712 Words   |  7 Pages The disjunction between Kant and Hegel, between the ‘universalistic’ and ‘communitarian’ conceptions of morality that they respectively gave rise to, has been ever present in moral philosophy for the last two centu-ries (Finlayson, Article 2005, 1). 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