Final answer:
Kant's deontological ethics is based on equality and liberty, emphasizing morality from duty and the categorical imperative's universal nature. In contrast, utilitarian ethics focus on the consequences of actions, aiming for the greatest happiness. Though both employ reason for universality, deontological ethics is concerned with the nature of actions, while utilitarianism is focused on outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Equality and liberty provide a significant foundation for Immanuel Kant's deontological ethics. Kantian ethics is grounded in the view that moral actions are premised on duty and the categorical imperative, which states that one should act only according to that maxim whereby they can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. This principle is devised from the realms of equality (universal applicability) and liberty (autonomy to decide moral laws).
Deontological ethics differs from utilitarian ethics, as the former stresses the importance of the motivation of an action rather than its consequences. Utilitarianism, on the other hand, values the outcome of actions, aiming for the greatest happiness for the greatest number. While both theories appeal to reason and seek universal application, their foundations are distinct—deontology in the inherent nature of actions and utilitarianism in the calculation of outcomes.