Immanuel Kant, based on his theory of categorical imperatives, says that one can�t make untrue promises. His basis for this idea is that if everyone went around making promises then breaking them, there would be no such thing as a promise for no one would believe anyone else. John Stuart Mill attacks Kant on his theory by saying that �all of Kant�s arguements for the catergorical imperative smuggle in utility.�(381) In other words, according to Mill, Kant�s application of categorical imperatives cant be true unless the principle of utility is applied to the imperative.
Mill�s theory of the principle of utility ultimately means to maximize good, that is to do what is best for the community by increasing the overall happiness of the citizens. In Mill�s view, moral principles depend on the principle of utility. ��If people didn�t obey this rule, bad things would happen.� And that relies on the principle of utility.�(381) Tying this statement to Kant�s theory about promise keeping or breaking is easy. Keeping one�s promise is an issue of morality, and according to Mill morality rests on the principle of utility. So, keeping a promise directly relies on the principle of utility. A person is morally obligated to do what they have >promised, and in keeping their word, it ultimately leads to the happiness of the person or persons the promise was made to which then increases the happiness of the community i.e. maximizing the good. Kant argued that if no one kept a promise, there would be no such thing as promise. This also ties into the principle of utility because if no one trusted anybody else, it would not be beneficial to the community, and therefore would not maximize the good. In these two situations, Mill can validly say that applying Kant�s categorical imperative does rely on the principle of utility.
On the other hand, Kant says that one must keep their promise at all times, even at the expense of someone else�s well being. According to the principle of utility, a promise can be broken if it would make more people happy and increase the good of the community. In this case, the principle of utility can�t be applied because two very different thoughts are being presented. For example, Kant says that you have to keep the promise that a friend is going to commit suicide. If that person does end their life, then it doesn�t maximize the good of the whole. Instead many people are going to be upset and very unhappy because of this death. If the person who kept the secret had followed the principle of utility, then they would have told about his friends thoughts of suicide; instead he kept in accordance with Kant�scategorical imperative to always keep a promise.
Mill�s argument that Kant covertly uses the principle of utility with his application of categorical imperative toward promises is valid only if the promise is one that in keeping would do more good than harm. Otherwise, Mill�s theory does not hold true when applied to Kant�s theory of categorical imperatives.
Not that I expect anyone to read all of it. Anywho...
I'm 138 lbs. 3 lbs away from my first GW and the date for that is by Nov 1(APC concert!) I might fast Sunday and drop my GW down to 133. Thats the lowest weight Ive been in 2 yrs. I bought some new diet pills...Stacker 3. Im gonna stop taking the metabolife's so those diet pills will have more of an effect.
I went to HEB and chit chatted with this girl from my lax team. i feel like such a slacker tho 'cuz i havent been in 2 weeks. Been too damn busy studying. I dunno if im gonna go next week 'cuz thats my calc midterm. Im striving to get atleast and 85 on it. i have a *Gasp* 72 in calc at the moment. Class avg. is a 62 but I hafta have a GPA of 3.7 to even think about switching to the business school..better step it up...
im 'bout 99% sure my roomie has an ED. First it was the comments she made, then it was cleaning up puke that wasnt mine, then it was seeing an empty box of Ducolax in her drawer(i wasnt snooping she opened the drawer looking for something..the box was on top), the nonstop drinking of water and ff hot chocolate, and i saw some empty fruit snacks that i had bought in her trash(i kept the snacks UNDER my bed)..i think we both know about each other's ED's. We're cool with other so its not weird or anything. I just find it ironic.
9 days until APC! :)