Kantian Ethics, Essay Example

Of the three heart transplant candidates, it is imperative that Jerry receives the transplant. Even though he is a 55 year old man, he has three children and a stay at home wife that depend on him for survival. Arguably, his job at the carpet store is not highly profitable, but he works hard to support his family. His wife is not well educated and has very few skills, indicating that it would not be possible for her to take over her husband’s role as the breadwinner for the family. Furthermore, Jerry has one child in college and he is helping support her. He also has two children that have not yet reached a college age, but will likely need support when they reach this age as well. Of utmost concern is Jerry’s autistic teenager. Because this child requires specialized care, it will become even more challenging for the family to support his health needs. It is possible for Jerry to live another 10-15 years if he receives this heart transplant, and it is apparent that his family needs him to work to continue supporting their livelihood. After this 15 year period, it is likely that two of Jerry’s children will be mature enough to take care of themselves and they will be able to provide for their autistic brother and mother. However, if Jerry dies early, it is possible that the family will encounter a significant level of financial distress that will prevent the well-being of the whole family.

According to the ethical theory of John Stuart Mill, “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote overall human happiness” (Schefczyk, 2012). Thus, Mill is primarily concerned with the consequences of actions. In order to quantify these consequences, he states that the most ethical action is the one that benefits the greatest number of people. This principle is called utilitarianism. Based on Mill’s understanding of ethical decisions, choosing Jerry for the heart transplant is the most ethical choice. Jerry has three children and one wife that are completely dependent on him for survival at this point of time. If he dies, the health of his family will diminish. On the other hand, even though Lisa is a young girl, no one is depending on her for survival. While her death would be sad to many, it would not cause the same amount of damage to lives that Jerry’s death would incur. Providing Ozzie with the heart implant would also not be the most ethical choice. Even though he has lived a hard life, he has no dependents. Therefore, his death would be the least impactful on others.

At this point in time, it appears that Jerry has the most to contribute to society as well. He is able to promote the growth and development of his three children, which could have a positive impact on society. All three children have a high level of potential and Jerry’s ability to continue providing them with guidance can ultimately contribute to the world. Jerry’s 19 year old child is currently in college and is preparing for a career. This is only possible for her because her father is able to contribute to her tuition. In addition, his 16 year old son is an ambitious astronaut “wannabe”. If Jerry is able to support his interest in science, it is possible that he will go on to make great discoveries. While Lisa and Ozzie potentially have bright futures ahead of them, they do not have the ability to impact as many people at the present time.

It is also important to consider that Jerry is also the best candidate for the heart transplant according to Kantian ethics. “Kant’s theory is an example of a deontological moral theory–according to these theories, the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they fulfill our duty” (Anscombe, 2001). Under this belief, the intention to do good for others more important than the actual consequences. Therefore, we must make decisions on the basis of our intention to benefit people. This is an important understanding because even though we cannot be certain that Jerry’s survival will result in the best scenario, we know that there is the greatest potential for good to be done if he is allowed to live. Furthermore, by picking Jerry, we are allowing for the support and growth of the largest number of people. We cannot be certain that Jerry’s children will grow up and contribute to the world, but we do know that there is a chance for this to happen. In addition, a positive contribution is most likely in Jerry’s scenario because four lives are directly dependent on his own survival. Thus, it is important to give Jerry the heart transplant and let him live.

In conclusion, Jerry is the best heart transplant candidate according to both Mill and Kant. Mill’s philosophy supports this idea because he states that the greatest good is the deed that benefits the greatest number of people. This is true in Jerry’s case because he has four family members that need him to survive. Kant states that the most ethical action is the one with the best intention. This is also true in Jerry’s case because his survival means that his family will flourish. Overall, Jerry should receive the transplant because his continued life will have the most positive impact on society.

References

Anscombe, E. (2001). Kantian Ethics. Retrieved from        http://www.csus.edu/indiv/g/gaskilld/ethics/Kantian%20Ethics.htm

Schefczyk, M. (2012). John Stuart Mill: Ethics. Retrieved from http://www.iep.utm.edu/mill-eth/

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