Immanuel Kant and Utilitarian Ethics

This book examines the extent to which Immanuel Kant's philosophy is consistent with a nuanced version of utilitarianism, highlighting his approval of conduct "in conformity with duty" that entails other-regarding or "sympathetic motivation" to advance general happiness. It compares Kant to utilitarian writers and evaluates reactions to his ideas by J.S. Mill and Karl Marx. It also demonstrates Kant's support for poor relief, reduced inequality, a state education plan, and opposition to paternalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In this comprehensive exploration of utilitarian ethics, the author takes a novel perspective, emphasizing the significance of motivation in the public interest over the commonly acknowledged notion. By adopting a utilitarian framework that assigns greater weight to the pursuit of collective happiness, the book delves into the compatibility of Immanuel Kant's philosophy with this nuanced interpretation.

Kant's distinctive requirement that ethical merit necessitates an agent to act purely from duty, driven by a commitment to forwarding the universal end of happiness, sets his position apart from the utilitarian ethics presented here. However, this book goes beyond mere comparison and showcases Kant's endorsement of a secondary category of conduct. This conduct, referred to as "in conformity with duty," involves other-regarding or "sympathetic motivation" to advance general happiness. It differs from utilitarianism solely in its meriting a qualified degree of ethical credit.

Through a meticulous comparison of Kant with eighteenth-century utilitarian writers such as Locke, Smith, Bentham, and Malthus, the book evaluates the reactions to Kant by prominent figures like J.S. Mill and Karl Marx. It also proposes Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) as a "precursor" for maintaining a "Kantian doctrine of conduct" from duty and for other shared features.

In terms of public policy, the book demonstrates Kant's justification for poor relief, reduced inequality, his proposal for a state education plan, and his opposition to paternalism. This work serves as a valuable resource for academic specialists and students engaged in the intersection of political economy and ethics, as well as the histories of economic thought, political thought, and intellectual history.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032198170