Part Three of "Life Boat"
What would a utilitarian philosopher argue, and what would a deontological philosopher, such as Kant, say?
A Utilitarian Philosopher would have argued that what the crew did was for the greater good. That sacrificing 5 people guaranteed the safety of the two dozen others that were on the lifeboat. The lesser sacrifice of 5 people saved the majority, which would be the utilitarian main argument. Although, on the other hand, the view of deontology would oppose the view of the utilitarian. Deontology would argue the fact that they cannot predict future consequences, they have to operate doing the right thing. Whatever is morally right, it is their duty to do that. They would have saved the 5 people still in the water at any risk or cost because it would be the morally right thing to do.
The utilitarian point is pretty clear, but why exactly, according to deontological ethics, would it be right to save the other people in the water
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