Difference between economic cost-benefit analysis and utilitarian approach to

moral reasoning

Assignment: Steven Kelman Cost-Benefit Analysis: Self-interested motivation versus moral

motivation: general alignment between morality and self-interest

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Abstract

According to Kant, if a person acts out of self-interest, it is certain that that the act isn’t

morally good. As an example, if we happen to find a missing child and know that there is a

reward if we help that child reach his/her parents and we do so, it is not considered as a moral

good. Kant says that the act of helping the child reach the parents is governed solely by the

reward money. Kant also says that emotions like sympathy cannot be seen in view of

morality. Only those acts which are actually performed for morality are said to be morally

right actions and barring good will, other features like intelligence or courage can and will be

misused.

Kant’s moral reasoning can certainly be applied to the business sphere. But it will come with

a few limitations. Let us take a simple example of a tobacco factory. It is definitely a business

aimed at making profits just like all other businesses. The owner knows very well that

cigarettes are harmful to the human body. What should he do in this case?