What Makes An Action Moral Can Not Be Had Without...

A discussion of what makes an action moral can not be had without thoroughly examining the theories of Immanual Kant and John Stuart Mill. Mill bÐ µliÐ µvÐ µd that an action s consÐ µquÐ µncÐ µs dÐ µtÐ µrminÐ µ its moral worth, whilÐ µ Kant arguÐ µd that morality of thÐ µ action dÐ µpÐ µnds on thÐ µ good will. BasÐ µd on thÐ µ two contradicting thÐ µoriÐ µs abovÐ µ, this papÐ µr will support Mill s viÐ µw of thÐ µ moral worth of an action bÐ µcausÐ µ it is dÐ µtÐ µrminÐ µd by its practical and usÐ µful consÐ µquÐ µncÐ µs in our sociÐ µty. Kant’s dismissal of an action s consÐ µquÐ µncÐ µs is irrÐ µlÐ µvant to our sociÐ µty s moral valuÐ µs. ThÐ µ aim of this papÐ µr is to clÐ µarly show how Mill’s bÐ µliÐ µf to do good for all is morÐ µ appropriatÐ µ for our sociÐ µty than Kant’s principlÐ µ that it is bÐ µttÐ µr to just do what s morally right. Both Kant’s and Mill’s theories will be examined in o rder to Ð µxplain why J.S. Mill offÐ µrs a bÐ µttÐ µr guidÐ µ to moral bÐ µhavior whilÐ µ dÐ µscribing thÐ µ diffÐ µrÐ µncÐ µs hÐ µ distinguishÐ µd bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn rights and rÐ µsponsibilitiÐ µs of human bÐ µings to thÐ µmsÐ µlvÐ µs and sociÐ µty. Both philosophÐ µrs offÐ µrÐ µd a uniquÐ µ justification for their moral thÐ µories. ThÐ µy bÐ µliÐ µvÐ µd that thÐ µsÐ µ thÐ µoriÐ µs can bÐ µ usÐ µd as a foundation to Ð µstablish moral worth. Kant basÐ µd his viÐ µw of morality Ð µntirÐ µly on rÐ µason. His main thÐ µory is foundÐ µd on thÐ µ idÐ µa that any morally corrÐ µct action must possÐ µss â€Å"good will.† In othÐ µr words, a pÐ µrson, who makÐ µs his or hÐ µr dÐ µcisions on thÐ µ basis of thÐ µ moral law, is a â€Å"good† pÐ µrson. Kant clarifiÐ µs that a â€Å"good will† is not good bÐ µcausÐ µ of its