Question

Consider this case. Jack, a Ph.D. in biochemistry, has trouble finding a job in his field. He ends up taking a job as a gas station attendant just to make ends meet. But his family is large and they barely scrape by. A friend of his from college tells him about a new position opening up at some east coast company. He would be perfect for the position. However, he would be doing research that contributes to biological weapons. Jack was an activist against biological warfare in college. His friend argues that he should take the job anyway since someone else will take it if he doesn't. The weapons will be made whether he participates or not. But if he participates then he can take care of his family. Moreover, his friend tells him, the only other candidate is a man without a family and who already has a well-paying job.

What, according to utilitarianism, should Jack do? Explain and justify your answer.

What would a Kantian say Jack should do and why? Explain and justify your answer.

Answer 1

According to utilitarianism, Jack should take the job. This is because the Job will give him the option for utilizing resources for his family. Leaving beside the moral side of the job since Jack had been an activist against the biological weapon, Jack desperately needs the job as he has the right kind of knowledge and moreover he has a family to feed. The principle of utilitarian allows individual to pursue whatever they want and need leaving aside what is the judgement of morality on the ends it purports to achieve,

According to Kantian, Jack should choose the job wisely and always seek the duty as an individual in terms of its consequences. The action of Jack in taking the job will be judged accordingly to the kind of duty fulfilled by Jack. First, he is a father and has a family who has the responsibility to earn and second he is a citizen who also is responsible for the action he takes. Though Jack sees consequences in taking up the job, however, the moral lies on whether Jack fulfils his duty.  Kantian would emphasized on the Categorical Imperative of the job which is a supreme principle of morality.