Week 2 - Post 4

What I see as right and wrong comes from what I have been taught through growing up with some thought and personal experience, I come up with my own personal rule. Many of such rules change over time, as it is influenced by society changes over time. My decision making is base on the criteria of protecting myself and not harming others around me. My set of rule does not necessarily fit another person’s ethic values, as we have different personal experiences and education. For example, I support abortion, prenatal genetic tests, genetic engineering, and assisted suicide of terminal patients. Large portions of my decisions are made very scientifically, I look at what’s the cost of my action (consequences), and I look at the benefits and I compare the two. I make my decisions by making a cost-benefit analysis like one would normally do when making economical decisions.

Kant believes that one should make decisions alone, free from all societal influences and peer pressure. Living by one’s own law, independent mind will shield one from outside manipulate. Human beings are rational and self-ruling, thus humans should be able to make moral decisions free from outside influences. Kant believes the source of Good does not lie in nature or given by god or anywhere outside the human subject, but Good lies in good will of human subject. Given that each person makes their own decisions, Kant also emphasize that human need to respect humanity, and not remove rights of ourselves and other people. We need to make decisions that do not sacrifice the happiness of others.

Kant will agree with only part of my moral judgment, since I base my moral decision on the grounds of not harming other’s chance to achieve happiness. However, Kant will not approve that some of my choices are influenced by societal values. Kant wants all choices to be free from outside corruption.

On the other hand, Mill follows the “Greatest Happiness Principle,” such that choices are made based on achieving the greatest happiness, both quantity and quality happiness. However, all actions are under the rule that they do not interfere with other’s entitlement to happiness, more importantly; none of the actions will harm others. People should chose actions that brings greatest happiness (profit), and cause least amount of pain; his philosophy is very economically based. Mill’s philosophy coincides with my personal values, in which both focus on creating self happiness, and both try to not inflict any harm on others. According to Mill, harming of one’s self is allowed, since this act may bring happiness to one’s self. Societal value will not approve Mill’s idea, since suicide is a crime; society thinks it is wrong for one to inflict pain on his or her self.

Kant will strongly disapprove Mill’s philosophy, Kant will think that Mill’s philosophy care too much of outside view when Mill states action should not harm others. This means that Mill’s decision is influenced by what others think, which completely go against Kant’s philosophy.