Categorical Imperative and Utilitarianism - Article Example

When Mill says this, he refers to the existing difference between the amount of pleasure and the level of value each type of pleasure may have. In this case, quantity motivates some people to choose a certain pleasure while quality may motivate others to choose a different type of pleasure because of the value attached to it. He explains that it is possible to determine pleasure of low or high quality (Mill, 2008). If a certain type of pleasure (P1) is preferred by people, irrespective of its low amount compared to a higher amount of a different pleasure (P2), then it means that P1 is of a higher value compared to P2. 5. At the beginning of chapter 2 of Utilitarianism, Mill discusses one criticism of his view which he calls an "ignorant blunder.

" Explain this criticism and his answer to it. Mill refers to the argument of opponents of utilitarianism that utility is opposed to pleasure as an ignorant blunder. This is because it is evident that utilitarianism seeks to consider pleasure itself as well as a condition free of pain and does not oppose it (Mill, 2008). This is the reason why he considers it a measure of ignorance to claim that utilitarianism is against pleasure. 6. Kant argues that false promises (promises you have no intention of keeping) are morally wrong.

Explain why he thinks they are wrong based on his first formulation of the Categorical Imperative (it is in bold on p. 24 from our excerpt). According to Kant’s first formulation of the categorical imperative, it is wrong to give false promises when one is aware that he or she may not fulfill them. This is because the formulation says “Act as though the maxim of your action were to become, through your will, a universal law of nature.” Since an individual wouldn’t want giving false promises to become a universal law of nature, he or she should focus on keeping promises as that would be a productive universal law of nature (Kant, 2008). 7. Explain Kant's second formulation of the Categorical Imperative.

In particular, explain how it works, and his reasons in favor of it (it is bold on p. 29 from our excerpt). Kant’s second formulation of the categorical imperative states that, “act in such a way as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of anyone else, always as an end and never merely as a means”. Evidently, Kant sought to highlight that human beings should not be exploited in any way, but should be accorded respect as an end itself. This means that human life should be respected and not compromised in any way. When making any decision, humanity should be regarded highly, and human life given priority (Kant, 2008).