Assessment Tool

Assessment Tool

Question (1): Case Study                                                                                                                  (13 Marks total)

“Emi is a bank officer. One day a thief came to the bank with a weapon and asked Emi about the money place. Emi said that she doesn’t know the money location even though she knows.” Try to analyze the situation according to Kant’s two Categorical Imperatives.

• Can such behavior be universalized? Why? (5 Marks)

Emi’s behavior should not be universalized. In this case, Emi lied to the thief about the location of the money. The categorical imperative explains that acts of telling lies should not survive in situations where people are used to making up stuff at all times. Emi might have lied for a good reason to secure and save the bank’s money. Despite her positive deeds, categorical imperative states lying as immoral, there is no chance for an appeal no matter what. The categorical imperative is compared to the consistency principle that acts as a golden rule.

• According to Kant’s theory, what should Emi do in this situation? (3 Marks)

The first version of the categorical imperative has objections about living a reality without lying. The second version talks about treating people well not to get something in return. Kant’s theory expects that Emi should not lie about the money’s location as she should treat the thief with dignity and respect while holding value in herself. From the theory, she should act with ethnicity as long as she is not tempted to getting something in return.

• Use Act Utilitarianism theory to analyze and explain in detail the decision that Emi should take in the situation above. (5 Marks)

Utilitarianism’s main idea is to justify whether actions are wrong or right morally; they depend on expected effects. Specifically, the actions Emi chooses to take will have good or bad results in the end. According to the act, when a person makes decisions that favor them alone, they consider their benefit. However, people should judge not only what best suits them but also others. In this case, Emi should decide for the bank’s benefit and its employees to discover policies and actions that maximize the bank’s well-being. Incase she chooses to show the location of the money, there are various possible effects to her colleagues and the organization. The Act Utilitarianism expects her to count other people’s interests equally. The act expects that when an individual decides what to do, they should perform actions that bring the highest overall utility. Emi applied the utility principle and did what she thought would be the best results, saving the location of the money. An action is considered right when it yields high utility compared to other actions available.

Question (2): Case Study

A man in need of money thinks about borrowing money and realizes he will have to promise to repay it even though he knows he cannot.

Can such behavior be universalized? Why? (5 Marks)

1. This behavior cannot be universalized. The man realizes he cannot repay the money, but he is willing to lie to get the money. The act is immoral as the man ought to lie to achieve what he desires. He should act on his maxim by making that promise according to his hopes and performing about his fears. The maxim of one’s actions cannot be acted upon by everyone upon similar conditions.

According to Kant’s theory, what should he do in this situation? (2 Marks)

1. Kant believes that individuals’ motives are classified as rational obligations and selfish inclinations. The man’s reason is selfish. According to Kant, moral choices are rational decisions as morality entails what we expect us to do. The man doesn’t need to be selfish only to obtain the money. Kant says that behavior choices affect our rational motive in the form of principles, as humans operate through the issuing of policies.

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