200 word response 1 reference/intext citation
Due 1/24/2025
Hicks
Explain how Utilitarianism works differently than Kantianism & Kant’s Categorical Analysis theory and if Utilitarianism would result in a different conclusion if the administrative agency is acting ethical or not in passing such a new regulation.
Ethical Evaluation of Expanding SNAP to Include Fast Food Using Kantian Ethics
Under Kantian Ethics, also known as Kantianism & Kant’s Categorical Analysis, ethical decisions are evaluated based on universal moral principles rather than consequences or individual preferences. Kant’s theory emphasizes the importance of duty, rationality, and treating all individuals with inherent dignity and respect. The Categorical Imperative, the cornerstone of Kantian Ethics, requires that an action should only be taken if it can be universally applied without contradiction and that individuals must never be treated solely as a means to an end but always as ends in themselves.
Applying Kantian Ethics to the question of whether it is ethical for the USDA or state agencies to expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to cover fast food, one must evaluate whether such an expansion respects the inherent dignity of SNAP recipients and aligns with universal principles. Expanding SNAP to include fast food could be seen as failing to fulfill a moral duty to promote the well-being of vulnerable populations. Fast food is often linked to poor nutrition and adverse health outcomes, which contradicts the USDA’s mission to promote access to healthy foods. Under Kant’s framework, an action that perpetuates harm or undermines individuals’ health and dignity would not pass the Categorical Imperative’s test of universalizability, as it would not be rational or justifiable to universally endorse policies that prioritize convenience over public health.
Furthermore, treating SNAP recipients as mere participants in a profit-driven system by allowing fast-food corporations to benefit from federal funds could reduce individuals to means rather than recognizing their inherent worth. Kantian Ethics would argue that policies should empower individuals to lead healthier, more autonomous lives rather than reinforce systems that may contribute to long-term harm. Therefore, under Kantian Ethics, expanding the SNAP program to cover fast food would not be ethical, as it fails to align with the universal moral duties of promoting public health and respecting the dignity of all individuals.
