Kant cares so much about goodwill and reason because of the belief that people should act out having been inspired by morality. According to Kant, acting out of goodwill implies acting because someone has a moral duty (Hay, 2013). The motivation of Kant in getting people to find a rational foundation for morality involves principles that are acknowledged by reason instead of desire for certain emotional feelings or expected experience.
The four steps of the First Categorical Imperative include four different formulations associated with the law of the universe. The first one is the formula for the law of nature, where an individual act as though the maxim of his or her actions is influenced through his or her will. The second one represents the formula of the end itself, where an individual is obligated to act in a manner that treats humanity as a means as well as an end (Bauch, 2007). The third one of the steps of the First Categorical Imperative argued by Kant involves the formula of autonomy which inspires people to act in a way that their will can consider itself as creating universal laws through different maxims. The fourth step relates to the formula of the Kingdom of Ends which expects people to act as though their maxims represent law-making members of a Kingdom of Ends.
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Using someone merely as a means to an end in Cl-2 implies that one person is utilizing another person to obtain what he or she desires out of a given situation. Essentially, the action is not undertaken on behalf of that particular person, but he or she is just being used as a way of achieving and securing the interests of a different person (Kant & Lewis, 2012). To that extent, a person is not just used as a mean but also as an end.
Concerning the choice of detonating Ferry B to kill 250 prisoners and 50 prison guards (while saving life and the 299 other lives on Ferry A) or waiting until the deadline expires and roll the dice on the Joker's threat, the argument by Kant would be inspired by the principle of goodwill and obligation of morality. In that regard, Kant would argue that what is good should also be just thus waiting until the deadline expires would be the preferred choice. This is because killing the people occupying ferry B would not be right and therefore, unjust, according to Kant (Kant & Wood, 1998).
Considering what a Utilitarian would say should be done, it is vital to examine their principles and beliefs. Utilitarian thinkers have a belief that the leading role of morality is making life better through raising the number of good things including happiness and pleasure; they would not go for a choice that violates morality and reduces happiness (Hay, 2013). As such, utilitarian would argue that detonating the ferry B to kill prisoners and prison guards would violate the principle of morality and create suffering even though it may be perceived as trying to save those on ferry A. Besides, Utilitarian would attempt to rationalize the situation by communicating their stand and principles.
I think that the moral course of action would involve choosing to wait until the deadline expires and roll the dice on the Joker's threat. This is because saving ferry A at the expense of ferry B would still amount to causing suffering and loss of three hundred lives, which is immoral. Besides, I think that it is rolling the dice on the Joker's threat would not amount to an immoral course of action since the Joker would be the one to be held responsible for the loss of lives.
References
Bauch, B. (2007). Bauch, Bruno, Immanuel Kant. Kant-Studien , 16 (1-3). doi: 10.1515/kant
1911-0114
Hay, C. (2013). A Feminist Kant-The New York Times. The New York Times Company , 1 (1),
25. Retrieved from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/a-feminist
kant/?_r=0
Kant, I., & Lewis, H. (2012). The essence of Kant's Groundwork of the metaphysics of
morals . Mount Jackson, VA: Axios.
Kant, I., & Wood, A. (1998). Groundwork for the metaphysics of morals . Cambrige:
Cambridge University Press.
