HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

School of Business and Accountancy
#Holy Angel Avenue, Sto. Rosario, Angeles City
Management Department

Case Analysis: “Utilitarian or

Kantian?”

Submitted by:

Sagun, Eryne Mae

A-234

Submitted to:

Mr. Joven Esteban

September 24,2022

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The scenario:

Mr. Lordy del Rosario has recently completed his PhD in Chemistry, and, like any other PhD candidate, finds
it extremely difficult to land a job after completing his degree.  Mr. del Rosario has a family, and his wife
works hard to support them. While she is supportive of Lordy, his difficulty finding a job puts a serious strain
on their relationship. An older chemist who knows Lordy tells Lordy that he can get him a job in a laboratory.
The laboratory pursues research into chemical and biological warfare. Lordy, however, is opposed to
chemical and biological warfare, and he therefore cannot accept the job. However, if Lordy refuses the job, it
will go to a colleague of Lordy’s who does not have any reservations about chemical and biological warfare.
Indeed, if this colleague takes the job, he will pursue the research with great zeal. For what it’s worth, Lordy’s
wife is not against chemical and biological warfare. Should Mr. del Rosario take the job or not?

Guide Questions:

1. From a Kantian perspective, what should Mr. del Rosario do? Why?
Mr. del Rosario should not take the job, because it would be going against his personal
convictions. Kantian ethics emphasize doing what is morally right, even if it goes against
one's self-interest. In this case, it is more important for Mr. del Rosario to act in
accordance with his beliefs than to take a job that he is opposed to.

Kantian ethics is a deontological ethical theory that was developed by philosopher

Immanuel Kant. Kantian ethics emphasizes doing what is morally right, even if it goes
against one's self-interest. In other words, Kantian ethics is concerned with the principle
of duty, or the idea that we have a moral obligation to do what is right.

2. From a utilitarian perspective, what should Mr. del Rosario do? Why?
Mr. del Rosario should take the job, because it would be in the best interest of everyone
involved. Utilitarianism is all about maximizing utility, or happiness, and in this case taking
the job would create the most happiness overall. Mr. del Rosario may not be happy with
the job, but his wife would be happy and the colleague who gets the job would be happy.

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that was developed by philosopher Jeremy Bentham.

Utilitarianism is all about maximizing utility, or happiness, and in this case taking the job
would create the most happiness overall. Mr. del Rosario may not be happy with the job,
but his wife would be happy and the colleague who gets the job would be happy.

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3. After analyzing the dilemma using these two frameworks, which is recommended?
I would recommend Mr. del Rosario to not take the job, because it would be going
against his personal convictions. Kantian ethics emphasizes doing what is morally right,
even if it goes against one's self-interest. In this case, it is more important for Mr. del
Rosario to act in accordance with his beliefs than to take a job that he is opposed to.

Why? Justify your answer 

I think it is more important for Mr. del Rosarioto act in accordance with his beliefs than to
take a job that he is opposed to. Kantian ethics emphasizes doing what is morally right,
even if it goes against one's self-interest. In this case, Mr. del Rosario's beliefs are more
important than his self-interest.