Can an understanding of Kantianism and Utilitarianism philosophy assist a professional in making a moral decision?

In Defining Moments, Joseph Badaracco acknowledges, “Thoughtful Managers sometimes face business problems that rise difficult, deeply personal questions. In these situations, managers find themselves wondering: Do I have to leave some of my values at home when I go to work? How much of myself – and of what I really care about – do I have to sacrifice to get ahead? When I get to the office, who am I?”

What is ethics? Philosophers, scholars and countless others have long debated the definition of ethics. Simply put, ethics is a broad field of inquiry that addresses a fundamental query that all of us, inevitably think about, namely, how I should live my life (Shaw& Barry, 2007, p.4). Narrowly defined as the study of right and wrong and broadly as the general inquiry into what is good. Ethics deals with individual character and the moral rules that govern and limit our conduct. Ethics provides the broader framework within which business life must be understood. It investigates fundamental questions that an individual, organization or company should consider when evaluating a possible course of action.

With ethics, there frequently is no absolute right answer, just a personal best answer, and it all comes down to our choices and us. Can we wake up in the morning and look ourselves in the mirror. Can we with our decisions reach to level 6 from Kohlerg’s stages of Moral Development where “justice and fairness must be accorded to everyone because of the fundamental equality and dignity of all human beings?” Can an understanding of Kantianism and Utilitarianism philosophy assist an individual in making a moral decision?

Utilitarianism is a version of consequentialism that defines morality in terms of the maximization of net expectable utility for all parties affected by a decision or action. As most clearly stated by Mill, the basic principle of utilitarianism is, actions are right to the degree that they tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number for everyone affected by our actions. Utilitarianism allows for degrees of right and wrong, and that for every situation, the choice between actions is clear-cut: always choose that which have the greatest utility. In an organizational context, several features about utilitarianism make it appealing as a standard for moral decisions and part of decision making. Utilitarianism provides a clear and straightforward basis for formulating and testing policies, an objective and attractive way of resolving conflicts of self-interest, and it offers a flexible, resulted oriented approach to moral decision making (Shaw & Barry, 2007). The morality supported by Mill and other philosophers of the nineteenth century such as Kant allows adjustment to fit the needs of a changing civilization due to examination and knowledge.

Kantianism Although nonconsequentialist normative theories vary significantly, adopting different approaches and stressing different themes, the writings of the preeminent German philosopher Immanuel Kant provides an excellent example of a thoroughly nonconsequentialist approach to ethics (Shaw & Barry, 2007). Kant proposed that objective reality known only insofar as it conforms to the essential structure of the knowing mind. Only objects of experience, phenomena may be known, whereas things lying beyond experience, phenomena are unknowable, even though in some cases we assume a priori knowledge of them. One cannot confirm or deny the existence of such unknowable 'things-in-themselves' nor demonstrate them scientifically. Kant arrived at his categorical imperative to which he referred to as being absolute moral law: "Act as if the maxim from which you act were to become through your will a universal law". Kantian philosophy dictates that intention or consequences can affect the moral and ethical decisions of individuals. Utilitarian principles are most useful in determining the ethical position of an action although it allows "gray areas" that are hard to resolve. Kantian ethics is strongest in many of the areas where utilitarianism is weakest in that choices are black or white. Kant's theories are useful in making moral judgments involved in the decision-making process, rules that do not depend on circumstances, results and that do not permit individual exceptions no matter what the consequences maybe, or who does it. Moral dilemmas arise when duties are in conflict without a mechanism for solving them.

In applying Kantian and Utilitarian philosophy to evaluate and decide on a possible course of action, will definitely lead to challenges. A first step to meeting those challenges is to understand the proposed course of action and the nature or consequences of those actions.