Moral Principles Utilitarianism Kantian Ethics

¶ … prostitution is a dirty word. Yet governments support it and benefit from it. This paper discusses prostitution in light of Kantian ethics and Mill's utilitarianism.

MORAL PRINCIPLES:

UTILITARIANISM vs. KANTIAN ETHICS

To every decision there are always two sides attached; one that advocates an absolute standard and the other that questions this standard. Similarly when faced by a moral dilemma, one solution is to do in accordance with absolute moral standards and the other is to weigh the consequences and do in accordance with them. The first allows the assurance that the decision will be absolutely correct in terms absolute morality; however it may harm the parties involved. The second practice ensures that once the consequences are weighed and judged and the decision acted upon, it is going to benefit more people but would harm some. However in event of the second choice, there is no assurance that the decision is morally correct. It is the former that was supported by Immanuel Kant and the latter by John Stuart Mill. Kant supported the concept of absolute morality that could serve as a universal law under all circumstances for all times to come. On the other hand, Mill advocated the concept of utilitarianism, arguing that the morality of each action is to be judged in terms of favorable or unfavorable consequences that result from that action; if the resultant costs are less in comparison with the resultant benefits, then an action is justifiable even if it does not meet the absolute standard of morality. Therefore it can be stated that Kantian ethics are based on three considerations; the first one demands that if an action does not establish a universal moral law, it is unethical. The second one states that morality should serve as the end in itself and not as means. And the third one demands that if an action does not abide by a universal law but is subject to subjective analysis, the action is unethical.

PROSTITUTION: A MORAL/ETHICAL ISSUE

The act of prostitution presents one such dilemma where by Kantian ethics, it cannot serve as a morally correct universal law but that it is subject to circumstances. However under the concept of utilitarianism, prostitution is justifiable if the costs of the action are less than the benefits received.

Prostitution can be defined as performance of sexual acts for the sole purpose of material gain. Prostitutes can belong to either gender but women are more often the ones who take up this act as a profession usually under economic stress. Prostitution is condemned on the grounds of three-tiered Kantian ethics. Firstly under Kantian ethics, prostitution is an action where bodies are used as means to attain something. Since Kant advocated that an action should serve as an end and not as means, Prostitution would receive severe criticism on this ground. Secondly if morality behind the act of prostitution is subject to analysis and judgment, then the act is not moral at all since Kantian ethics state that an action cannot be judged under subjective analysis. Thirdly, the act of prostitution can never take the form of being morally correct under all circumstances and in all periods. In fact prostitution is not only condemned in many societies, it is also viewed as an unethical practice. Moreover the idea of using sex, which is only lawful under marriage for money, is legally incorrect. In addition, prostitution might serve some societies but it will always harm some; therefore it cannot take the form of a universal law. This can be understood by the example of theft. "Stealing is wrong" is a rule that can take the form of a universal law because it is applicable under all circumstances, for all time periods.

From the utilitarianism standpoint, however the act of prostitution is not unethical if it serves or benefits a greater number of people while harming a smaller number. Moreover if the consequences of the action provide benefit such as economic, to the person who undertakes it then it follows that the action cannot be condemned on moral grounds.