Plato's Deontology vs. Aristotle's Utilitarianism

During class we have discussed two of the major Ethical schools of thought. Those schools being Deontology, commonly attributed to Kant, and Utilitarianism, which is commonly attributed to Bentham. As discussed in class, Deontology deals in hard and fast absolutes, which are to have no deviation. For example, one should never kill another human. Ever. With absolutely no room for exceptions or variation. Utilitarianism on the other hand is based on the principle of "the greatest good for the greatest number".

While these two schools of ethical thought are associated with more modern philosophers, they can be traced back to the roots of philosophy itself, specifically Plato and Aristotle. The Deontological thought of absolutes can be related to Plato's concept of the one truth that people desire to attain. For Plato, there is one truth, and only one truth. No deviation. And that everything that a person can do should be in pursuit of that one truth and not in pursuit of anything else. This is in many ways very similar to the Deontological idea that once a rule has been set, it is not to be deviated from under any circumstances.

Generally opposed to this is the Utilitarian school of thought, which allows for deviations from rules if it is for the benefit of the largest number of people. For example, as opposed to deontologies, do not kill ever sentiment, a utilitarian may find it acceptable to kill a mass murderer to keep them from killing even more people in the future. In deontology, this thought would never be allowed.

Utilitarianism, while credited largely to Bentham, actually finds its basis stemming from Aristotle's writings, specifically from his Nichomachean Ethics. In his Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle talks about how one should lives one life on the basis of the middle road. By doing so, one will remain balanced in life and by seeking compromise rather than always holding to an extreme one will be able to do good for others. This idea is very similar to Utilitarianisms main goal of greatest good for the greatest number, and was likely in some way tied to the development of Utilitarian thought.

So while Deontology and Utilitarianism are both credited to more modern philosophers, the core ideas of each are in fact tied back to the early times in philosophy, namely Plato and Aristotle. This is true of many modern day philosophies, as a lot of the ideas developed throughout history can be traced back to those two drastically different philosophers.

~Brandon