Utilitarian Analysis: Essay

Should Australian manufacturers sell
weapons to countries accused of war
crimes

Table of Contents
Essay Part 1......................................................................................................................................3
1. Utilitarian analysis..................................................................................................................3
2. Kantian analysis......................................................................................................................4
3. Additional theory description..................................................................................................5
Deontological Theory..................................................................................................................5
4. Reference list...........................................................................................................................6
Essay Part 2......................................................................................................................................7
5. Additional theory application..................................................................................................7
6. Theory extension.....................................................................................................................8
7. Conclusion...............................................................................................................................9
8. Reference list.........................................................................................................................10

Essay Part 1
1. Utilitarian analysis
Utilitarian analysis is one of the well known and influential theory which depicts that
whether actions are ethically right or wrong. It depends upon the effects or result of actions taken
by individuals. Utilitarian people believes that the main purpose is to make individuals life better
by doing goods things and reducing bad things. Every act must posses utility in order to be
accepted by society and is helping or making life of people better. There should be a positive and
effective outcomes for society then only any act can be considered under theory of utilitarian
(Mill, 2016). According to this theory, it has been concluded or identified that Australian
manufacturers should sell weapons if it will create positive environment and cause more
happiness than harm (Barrow, 2015). On the basis of this theory, selling weapons to those
countries who are accused of war crimes only if it will create benefits to the society instead of
harm to them. It has been said that, if Australian companies sell weapons to those countries who
are accused in war crime might create negative and harmful effect on individuals. According to
the point of view of Dylan Welch, Kyle Taylor, Rebecca Trigger, 2019, it has been said that
Federal Government is under the fire in order to grant licence to a Canberra company which
export weapon system destined for Saudi Arabia. It is the country which is torture human beings
and cause negativity within the country. With the help of overall observation clearly specifies
that Australian companies should restrict themselves from selling or providing war weapons to
Saudi Arabia and other nations who are highly indulged into criminal activity that may also lead
to war among two or more nations (Banks, 2018).
Including this, there are a range of aspects on which this analysis could effectively be
produced and these are society, perspective and shareholders and all of these are described
underneath considering the case based on Utilitarian:
Society : Considering the present case study, where Australian weapon manufactures
should or should not sell their developed weapons to countries accused of war crimes like Syria,
Saudi Arabia, Geneva and many more. Basically, what utilitarian theory says that every single
modification within life, whether it is related to daily life or for other perspectives has been built
for betterment of the society. This is something that could be considered as something on which,
every single Australian weapon manufacturing company and other firms has carried as their

thought while developing weapons. Therefore, for betterment Australian weapon manufactures
could sell their weapons to other nations. But, if it is thought in a different way where
perspective of war crime countries has been to Wilful killing, or causing great suffering or
serious injury to body or health then this theory cannot be utilised, because these nations has
already breached conventions of many countries and utilised weapons against the society.
Perspective : War crime countries has kept their perspective of wilful killing and
supported terrorism over the years. But, then also there are many countries that came out of these
perceptions and has not been any sort of war crime situations. Therefore, it cannot be clearly said
that if Australian manufacturers should directly sell the lethal weapons to these nations or not.
Considering the utilitarian theory. Where it is mandatory for every single aspect to be accepted
by society and is helping or making life of people better. In order to build these countries much
more secured enough for the future, Australian weapon manufacture could sell their weapons on
the basis of contract, that if these weapons are going to be utilised for any terrorist attack or with
any Willful killing then they could call war against them or may take any sort of actions.
2. Kantian analysis
It refers to a theory which is mainly determined by the principles and duties of an
individual but does not depend upon the consequences or result of the actions taken by them.
Under this theory, main focus is on the intentions of actions which is taken by individuals. This
activity basically focuses on intention and not ultimate action, reason behind this it is important
that there has to be an ethical intention behind the action. There are sometimes such situations in
real world, when actual outcome may be considered as unethical but then also action as a whole
will be considered ethical. Reason being is that, this action is having an ethical intention which is
enough to make whole act ethical, lawful and justifiable. It is the theory which is mainly based
on the point of view that only internal good things create value and good will. It has also been
identified that it refers to a form of ethics where ethical actions are considered only it produces
positive results or consequences.
Kant has led emphasis on some rules which are universally applied and he also said that
everyone has right to receive equal treatment, as ethical actions are those which apply to
everyone. Moreover, in context with Australian Manufacturers, this theory is appropriately
applied as under:
Duty and Respect for Moral Law:

In Kant's perspective, motivation in context with moral law is quite evident through
respect towards it. In addition to this, duties are several norms that are required to be followed
with a sense of constraint or incentive. For example, there are several norms set out for
Australian manufacturers, in terms of selling their weapons to different countries. As an
example, defence department of Australia perceive this rationale, that it is a violation of human
rights, along with several legislations marked out by the United Nations, in case countries
indulge in selling weapons to nations accused of war crimes. Hence, this duty towards complying
with these legislations and fundamental structure, refrains Australian Manufacturers in selling
such weapons to countries accused of war crimes.
The Humanity Formula:
The formula appropriate states that one must never act in a way which disregards respect
towards other individuals. Thus, this rule introduces the idea of instilling respect for other
individuals.
This is applied within this scenario as this formula does not rule out using individuals as
means to one's ends. Rather, this emphasises on pervasive utilisation of humanity, in ways
through which humanity becomes mere means to one's ends. Thus, in relation with the same,
countries accused of war crimes must not be seen as a means to earn profit, or to drive the
business forward. However, one must judge those countries rationally, rather than pursuing their
own ends, which would allow them to analyse them in a better light. Thus, with application of
this theory, selling weapons to countries accused of war crimes is quite unethical as well as
ineffective as far as the standards of this theory is concerned.
3. Additional theory description
Deontological Theory
The Deontological theory is an ethical theory which focuses on judging the actions that
are fully based on certain rules and regulations. It can also be described as "duty" and the
"obligation" or "rule" based ethics because these all will bind an individual to complete and do
their duties. In other words, Deontological ethics theory is defined as an philosophy of ethical
theories which plays an important and special emphasis on relationship among the morality as
well as duty of an individual or human actions (Baron, 2018). The term “Deontology” is derived
from the Greek word “deon” which means, “duty,” and words “logos” means “science”. This

theory is totally tells about the rules and concept and also tells that weighing the cost as well as
benefits of situation is not required.
The Deontology ethical theory helps in defining the difference between what is right and
what is wrong with help of different rules and regulations. Although, it places a specific
emphasis and importance on effective relationship between duties as well as the morality of
humans actions. Some of the daily life example of deontology theory are don't Kill and beat
anyone, don't steal anything, belief in all religions, keep the promises you are making, do not
cheat anyone, don't Lie to any person, do respect the elders. The Deontology is very simple and
easy to apply on an individual. As it just search those individual who fully and effectively follow
all the rules & regulations, ethics, norms while doing their duty in efficient manner.
However, the Deontologists focuses on dealing with universal moral rules and ethics, just
like its wrong to kill innocent people, its wrong to steal something, wrong to tell and speak lies
as well as it is very right to keep promises. Thus, the Australian manufacturers company should
not sell their weapons to other countries which are used in war crimes. As its very wrong to do
this. The main advantage of Deontology ethical theory this helps all human beings in emphasises
on their value in effective manner, it also provides 'certainty, it also not considered acts which
are wrong and bad in nature (Weinrib, 2017). Along with this it will benefit in creating moral
absolutes and also benefits in creating higher levels of personal responsibility which emphasize
values of each and every individual that focuses and deals with positive intentions and motives.
If its talked about limitation of Deontological ethical theory, it has number of
disadvantage. Such as it become as important as the supernatural excuses and it is totally based
on the actions and reactions which is taken by an individual. Along with this, it suggest that you
should always focuses on doing the right and correct thing. In addition to this, it do not deal
properly and effectively with those cases where duties as well as conflicts are more. With the
help of this theory, it has been concluded that each and every person is morally obligated with
some specific set of rules, principles and policies. It has also been said that actions are
considered as ethical and moral which are based on particular regulations rather than on the
result and outcome of the actions (Ficarrotta, 2016).
4. Reference list
Mill, J. S. (2016). Utilitarianism. In Seven masterpieces of philosophy (pp. 337-383). Routledge.
Barrow, R. (2015). Utilitarianism: A contemporary statement. Routledge.
Banks, C. (2018). Criminal justice ethics: Theory and practice. Sage Publications.

Lyons, D. (2015). Utilitarianism. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management, 1-4.
Hunt, S. D., & Vitell, S. J. (2016). Personal Moral Codes and the Hunt-Vitell Theory of Ethics:
Why Do People’s Ethical Judgments Differ?. In Business ethics: New challenges for
business schools and corporate leaders (pp. 30-49). Routledge.
Baron, M. W. (2018). Kantian ethics almost without apology. Cornell University Press.
Weinrib, J. (2017). Law as a Kantian idea of reason. In Kant and Law (pp. 3-40). Routledge.
Ficarrotta, J. C. (2016). Kantian thinking about military ethics. Routledge.
Online:
Australian Government under fire over export of weapons system to war crime-accused Saudi
Arabia, 2019. [Online]. Available Through: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-
20/australian-firm-eos-weapons-systems-bound-for-saudi-arabia/10825660>
Essay Part 2
5. Additional theory application
The current given scenario, overall revolves around the delivery of weapons from
Australia to the criminal accused nation that is Saudi Arabia. In the case it has been clearly
observed that If Australian government serves war weapon to Saudi Arabia then it would not
going to be right as it could place impact over the international health later on. It has also been
identified that the Australian government specifically denies to the statement that they are deliver
weapons to Saudi Arabia but some secret sources has revealed that it is not true as its weapons
are sold to Yemen (Chakrabarty & Bass, 2015). The main reason behind secret sources about
these statements is non transparency of Australian government in terms of their sales. This
simply develops question mark in the mind of other authorities that Australian government is
indulged into the sales of war weapons to the Saudi Arabia.
While analysing the overall case to the undertaken theory that is Deontological Theory, it
has been analysed that this theory simply uses certain rules to check that whether the performed
activity is done right or wrong manner. The theory is clearly associated with ethical values which
depicts that no one should perform any kind of wrong activity whose result is ethically not
correct. For instance: Stealing something is simply a wrong activity whose outcome or result
would never come under parameters of ethical values. Also, it does not support or covers
uncertainty because individuals are only aspected to perform certain set of rules which can not be
ignored by them in any case.
As per the theory, Australian government is not allowed to sell different kind of war
weapons to the countries accused of war crime because it creates negativity among individuals

and affect their livelihood. It has also been said that it is essential for the Australian government
to examine such kind of trades which creates harm among people more than happiness and
positivity. For example, there is a missile launch which might create harm and thousand of
people will die by this and a software engineer hack the network in order to cancel the launch.
But it has been identified that hacking a software is against professional code of conduct (Crisp,
2015). According to Deontology theory, it has been said that violation of rule is against this
theory. Therefore, it has been concluded that it is essential according to this theory that there
must be use of ethical code of conduct whether it develop positive or negative result. Apart from
this, it is also very essential for the government of Australia to interfere in their decisions, if for
any reasons these countries get involved in a war.
As per the above analysis , it has been concluded that this theory completely rely on the
ethical values and principles. Apart from this, it has also been said that this theory focuses on
what is right and what is wrong, belief in all religions, keep the promises you are making, do not
cheat anyone, don't Lie to any person, do respect the elders. In addition to this, it has also been
identified with the help of this theory that whether the outcome is positive or not, it is essential to
follow ethical values (Robinson, Page-Gould & Plaks, 2017). In reference to the given case
study, it has been said that Australian government or manufactures should follow each and every
ethical codes whether outcome of the action is positive or not.
6. Theory extension
For better understanding Utilitarian theory, an academic paper i.e. “Rule utilitarianism,
rights, obligations and the theory of rational behaviour” is taken into consideration. This
academic paper provide extension to knowledge developed on the theory earlier. This is because,
earlier studies states that this theory mainly depicts that whether taken actions are ethically right
or wrong is totally depends upon the effects or outcome produced by actions taken. It has also
been identified with the help of Utilitarianism theory mainly focuses on producing maximizing
utility for ample number of peoples. It has also been said that people believes that the main
purpose of this theory is to make life of individuals better by doing positive or goods things more
and decreasing bad things. With the assistance of this theory, it has been determined that it is a
kind of philosophy or theory which says that actions taken by individuals, companies,
government or country is considered as ethical only if it create happiness more than harm. In

utilitarianism theory it has been identified that this theory is well known for creating greatest
happiness principles among individuals and society.
But on the other hand, this paper have further provided extended information over the
same concept which says that this theory is applied on three examples (De Waegeneer, Van De
Sompele & Willem, 2016). According to this research or academic paper, it has been argued that
moral attitude or behaviour of act-utilitarian individuals might have the quality of a non-
cooperative game. It is played in extensive mode and involves act by act incrementation of social
utility. On the other hand, it has been identified that the ethical and moral attitude of rule
utilitarian individuals have in them which have the attributes of cooperative game, which is
generally played in normal mode as well as include a firm or positive commitment from each and
every player for a particular moral and ethical strategy. Apart from this, if some of the
individuals actions are authorised or direct by this strategy, it is considered as in isolation. This
as a result fail to enhance the social utility. One of the biggest advantage of this theory mainly
lies in its quality in order to give recognition to ethical, moral and social obligation and rights of
individuals. It has also been identified with this academic paper that action by action social
utility maximization will destroy rights, obligations and ethical values of individual which is
required by act utilitarianism (Joyce & et. al., 2017).
The overall analysis of this academic states that there are two type of utilitarian used by
author to express its views in front of readers. Both of utilitarian are rule and act. The act
utilitarian simply states that the ability of giving complete importance to the moral and social
recognition of individual's personal obligation and rights. On the other hand, rule utilitarianism
provides recognition to moral validity of individuals rights so that there social utility can be
maximised effectively. With reference to the given case scenario, the theory says that by
analysing outcome individual can easily check out that whether the results of their previous acts
are ethical or not. Thus, it can be said that by taking this theory as the guidance Australian
government should analyse its past activities associated with the sale of war weapons to Saudi
Arabia in order to check that it has impacted upon society and war negative or not. If the
outcome of previous activity has been identified as unethical as it has affected the society then it
is advised to Australian Government to ensure that they will not sell war weapon to war
associated nation. This will help them out in remaining ethical in future and also keeping
themselves away from war situation as they are not supporting in anyone in direct and indirect

manner. At the end of this report it has been concluded that chosen research or academic paper
support the above findings.
7. Conclusion
As per the above stated report, it has been analysed that ethics and values plays very
essential role so that they can perform their work morally. Ethics are considered as set of various
rules and regulations which governs the attitude, behaviour and performance of individual. With
the help of effective use of ethical values, a person can create positive image which will assist
them in order to gain various results. It is essential to have ethics and values within the person so
that they can perform their work in an ethical manner. It has also been identified that ethics
create positive value within the life of an individual. Apart from this, it has been defined as one
of the important aspect in order to make choice among two different points. With the help of
above mentioned three theories, it has been concluded that each and every theory have their own
values and benefits which assist in performing the task in ethical manner. According to
Utilitarian theory of ethics, it has been identified that action taken by individual is considered
right or wrong on the basis of its effect. If it create more positive change than harm within the
society it will considered as ethical action and if it create harm more than benefits it is
considered as unethical action. But on the other hand, according to Kantian theory ethical and
moral actions is determined on the basis of duties, roles and principles and not on the outcome of
the action. Apart from this, it has been said that actions need to be ethical whether result can be
unethical or negative. Therefore, both the theory have there own perception and value which
assist in performing their work in an ethical and moral manner. According to the given case
scenario, it has been concluded that on the basis of Kantian theory, Australia manufacturers
might sell there weapons to the countries accused of war crime which is considered as one of the
ethical action. It has been determined that whether outcome is ethical or not, actions must be
justifiable and moral. In Deontological theory, actions are considered as ethical and moral
because of some positive and good characteristics and not because of the outcome of the action.
With the help of this theory, an individual will be able to differentiate between what is right and
what is wrong. At the end of this project, an academic paper is chosen which assist us in order to
gain more information about the topic. Apart from this, it has been concluded that this academic
paper will assist in conducting the research in an effective manner.

8. Reference list
Chakrabarty, S., & Bass, A. E. (2015). Comparing virtue, consequentialist, and deontological
ethics-based corporate social responsibility: Mitigating microfinance risk in institutional
voids. Journal of Business Ethics. 126(3). 487-512.
Crisp, R. (2015). A Third Method of Ethics?. Philosophy and phenomenological research. 90(2).
257-273.
Robinson, J. S., Page-Gould, E., & Plaks, J. E. (2017). I appreciate your effort: Asymmetric
effects of actors' exertion on observers' consequentialist versus deontological
judgments. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 73. 50-64.
De Waegeneer, E., Van De Sompele, J., & Willem, A. (2016). Ethical codes in sports
organizations: Classification framework, content analysis, and the influence of content
on code effectiveness. Journal of business ethics. 136(3). 587-598.
Joyce, & et. al., (2017). Ethical perspectives in Latin America’s journalism community: A
comparative analysis of acceptance of controversial practice for investigative
reporting. International Communication Gazette. 79(5). 459-482.
Online:
Rule utilitarianism, rights, obligations and the theory of rational behavior, 2019. [Online].
Available Through: < https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00154357>.

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