Question

How do Kant and Mill/utilitarians disagree about what is intrinsically or unconditionally good?

A) Kant believes that happiness is the only intrinsically good thing, while utilitarians argue that many things, including happiness, can be intrinsically good.
B) Kant and utilitarians both agree that happiness is the only intrinsically good thing.
C) Kant and utilitarians both agree that happiness and personal gain are the only intrinsically good things.
D) Kant and utilitarians disagree on what is intrinsically good, with Kant emphasizing happiness and utilitarians emphasizing personal gain.

Answer 1

Kant believes good will is the only intrinsically good thing, based on the decision to perform moral duties, while utilitarians like Mill hold that happiness or pleasure (utility) is intrinsically good, focusing on consequences that promote happiness.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kant and utilitarians like Mill disagree fundamentally about what is intrinsically or unconditionally good. The correct answer to the student's question is neither A, B, C, nor D. Instead, Kant believes that good will is the only intrinsically good thing because it reflects a person's decision to fulfill their moral duties, irrespective of the outcomes of their actions. This view is grounded in his deontological ethical framework which emphasizes duty and the categorical imperative. In contrast, utilitarians hold that happiness or pleasure is intrinsically good, which they define as utility. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory, which means it is the consequences of actions, particularly those that promote happiness or utility, that are morally relevant.