Kant and Mill both present us with two theories to answer the question of morality for all people. Kant provides us with the Categorical Imperative which tells us that all persons are morally equal because we all have the ability to reason. On the other hand, Mill provides us with Utilitarianism which tells us to follow utility or in other words what provides the greatest amount of happiness. Both principles of Kant and Mill can be used against morality through a series of steps or in Mill's case the "application stage." An action is to be tested against these steps and the end result is ultimately the deciding factor of whether or not the specific action is moral or immoral.
Mill's "Principle of Utility" is referred to as the fundamental moral principle. The fundamental moral principle is based on utility or what produces the greatest amount of happiness. Similar to the categorical imperative, Mill takes his fundamental moral principle one step further and tests it against universality. It requires that we not only take into consideration what provides the decision-maker with the greatest amount of happiness, but to also examine all of the possible consequences...
Mill's principle justifies morality based on what people desire as an end and claims that we are sentient beings. After defining his fundamental principle of morality, Mill describes a person's duties to others (in Kant's terms); however, unlike Kant he does not specifically refer to these intermediate rules as "duties" but instead as "subordinate principles.
The subordinate principles can still be comparable to what Kant refers to as our "duties" to others and recognizing their rationality and ability to reason. Mill's subordinate principles require that we acknowledge all human persons as sentient beings with the ability to be conscious and use our senses. As sentient beings we are present and have the power of knowing and feeling. Therefore, as Kant makes the claim that it is our duty to not commit suicide, make false promises, not develop our own abilities, and refuse to be charitable, these duties correspond to Mill's subordinate principles including the following:
1. Not to lie
2. To be…
