Deontology vs. consequentialism
Looking at the case from the Deontologist’s perspective, arresting the homeless man would not be the best option. Although arresting and prosecuting the man would cool tempers among the citizens, deontology argues that “some choices can never be justified by their effects” (Alexander & Moore, 2016). Deontological theories indicate that it does not matter the extent of the consequences of an action. Deontology considers some actions to be morally forbidden. Therefore, it becomes necessary to uphold what prioritizes the right over what brings greater good to others. Noteworthy, the only available option for a deontologist, in this case, is to defend the right of the homeless man, the right to fairness and justice. His innocence should prevail.
On the other hand, a consequentialist would advocate for the arrest of the arrest, trial, and execution of the homeless to subvert the riots. From a consequentialist point of view, actions that result in the greater good of others should be championed. Of great importance to a consequentialist is the “collective good” that action brings, and that any assertion that increases the good deserves to be executed (Alexander & Moore, 2016). Therefore, if arresting the homeless man will avoid more deaths, then the action is justifiable. In a weighing scale, a consequentialist would take the collective good prior to the right of an individual.
In my opinion, I would indicate that the man be arrested, tried, and executed. In my reasoning, I would agree with a consequentialist stance that points out the need to achieve a common good. If the life of one man can save the lives of children and the elderly, then sacrificing that one life will be justified. In my observation, a deontologist’s primary weakness, regarding this case, would be their failure to avoid disastrous consequences. If compliance with deontological norms will result in deaths, then adopting the alternative that protects lives becomes the best option.
Reference
Alexander, L., & Moore, M. (2016). Deontological Ethics. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016). Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/ethics-deontological/