Literature Ethics Essay

points in their journey.  In both cases, the old work force appear weak and ill-suited to survival in the harsh world of the novel.  In the first instance the catch refuses to financial aid the old mankind (49-52), besides in the second instance the arrest agrees to help the old man (161-174), suggesting un originalty and inconsistency in his incorrupt reasoning.  But how might the let have responded if he had followed a specific branch of righteous school of thought in approaching these situations?Thesis chosenIf the father had approached these situations as a deontologist he would have helped both old men, but if he had approached the situations as a utilitarian he would have refused to help both men.In staying true to the path of most deontologists, we could say that had the father been a practician of the said philosophy, he would have helped both old men in their respective scenarios of need. As generally defined, deontology is the ethical judgment of a cert ain act which founds itself on the intent of the act itself to serve as the cornerstone for which to determine the morality of the said act.It is also accepted that deontologists believe in the existence of universal moral norms that transcend boundaries, applying to everyone the individual helping knocked out(p) another individual being one of them. To deontologists, one is duty-bound to help his fellow man doing so would allow one to adhere to what they obtain as the categorical imperative, and would therefore be a fulfillment of responsibility.Had the father in Cormac McCarthys The Road been a follower of this approach on ethical motive, he would have helped both old men who were in need, and should eitherone else term of enlistment up requiring any manner of assistance, then he would have glum to help them out too. The foundation of deontology requires that one should always fulfill the moral obligation of the individual, which lies in accordance with the said norms that a pply to everyone.Should any unrighteous or unpleasant consequence surface from the said action, one would cover morally pure as one had only done what was set(p) by the obligations of the individual a dying criminal nursed to wellness who would continue to practice crime would be responsible for his own actions and the healer would remain pure as he had only acted upon this said moral norm this is the basis of deontology.Had the father been a practitioner of utilitarianism, however, then he would have gone and ignored both men. Helping out any of them would only hamper them in their goal of finding lasting safeguard and refuge for the boy. We must keep in mind that the journey was brought close by the need for a secure future for the boy as his father is weakening as well. The pilgrimage is led by the father with no specific destination, and therefore no specific timeframe. To take on other government issues such as aiding old men who would have zero point to contribute to th e group and should be taken with them would only serve as a liability would only delay and possibly cost the winner of the expedition.Utilitarianism is the concept of analyzing an actions moral worth by basing it on the outcome or consequences of the aforementioned action, therefore the perfect representation of the motto The end justifies the means. Utilitarians often keep in mind what they deem to be the greater good and anything less than that is to be considered expendable.As opposed to deontologistic article of belief of a universal moral norm, utilitarians believe the pinnacle of ethics to be to spread happiness, maximizing it to the most number of people, no matter what. This means that they are willing to sacrifice the happiness of the few for that of the many. Therefore, applying this into Cormac McCarthys The Road, had the father in the story acted out in a utilitarian manner, he would not have helped both old men, seeing as they would have nothing to offer to aid them i n their journey.Works CitedMcCarthy, Cormac. The Road. vintage Books, 2007.