Utilitarianism is a normative theory of ethics that places the locus of a right and a wrong action purely on the results or consequences of choosing one action over the other. Therefore it totally disregards one’s own interests or plight and takes into account the interest of other parties involved. In other words, for George to make this decision as a utilitarian, he would have to maximize the overall happiness of the people involved or are to be affected by the decision.
After years of hard work and dedication, George has realized his dream of attaining a doctorate in chemistry but has found it extremely difficult to get a job. Since his health limits the scope of jobs he can do, he has no hope of getting a job soon. As a family man, George is naturally obligated to providing for his family, a responsibility he has failed in due to unemployment. He has also caused a great deal of stress on his young family.
Clearly he should take the job being offered to him by the older chemist. This way he will be able to provide for his family as the job is decently paying. Certainly he will make his wife happy as he will relieve her off the burden of providing for the family alone and she may appreciate him more. His children will be well taken care of by the consolidated family income as a result. George will also make use of the knowledge and skills he acquired in chemistry during his years of study at the university.
This will give him much needed experience which can add to his credentials when looking for a job in other companies in future. He will set a good example to his children as they will see him as a provider. By taking the job as a researcher, he will also make the older chemist happy. Clearly the pros outweigh the cons. He should take the job.
How George would make his decision as deontologist
Deontological thinking is based on the fact that we are obligated or have a duty to do certain things that are right based on certain ethical rules and not to do others that are not right based on the same rules. As a deontologist, George will not look at the good that will come out of the action that may follow his decision but rather the obligatory or the prohibition element of the action by ethical considerations.
As a typical deontologist, George has very strong feelings about the words ‘right’ and ‘good’ whereby right has to do with his actions and good has to do with the outcome of his actions, he is strongly opposed to chemical and biological warfare.
As a chemist, George knows too well the adverse effects of the use of chemical and biological weapons on the human race, the effects of which may be catastrophic if not devastating. If he takes the research job, George will be abetting evil policies that may cause millions of deaths in future if not now; he should not take the job. He is however likely to face more problems than his conflicting duty.
People who know him and his family in particular are likely to accuse him of being a cruel cold-hearted moral machine that disregards the plight of his family. His children will be severely affected if he remains jobless. Whether he takes the job or not, the research will continue nevertheless. But as a deontologist he should ignore them and act in an egocentric way.
It is wrong to allow harm to come to another human being. George is therefore obligated to protect his honor. The ethically right act supersedes the outcome of taking the job. The human race that may be wiped out by the chemical and biological weapons should therefore come first. George should do justice by acting prudently even if the sky should fall! He should not take the job.