The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas Analysis Essay Example

justifies the act through Utility.

The belief that the act is judged as oppose to the consequence is called a Kantian perspective. Immanuel Kant believed that the action carried more value than the result. He believed in the categorical imperative, “which is a command that applies to all rational beings, independent of their desires” (Ethics 31).Through this belief, assuming they are rational, the citizens of Omelas would be found wanton because they are acting in their desire to be happy; and as such are actively maltreating someone to attain their desire. In the story, Le Guin mentions that some citizens do not accept the city’s practice and acting on their categorical imperative “walk straight out of the city of Omelas, through the beautiful gates” (Le Guin).

The people who leave reject the theory of Utility, and realize that the worth of their happiness is lessened knowing that is comes as the cost of someone’s harm. I agree with the latter argument because I feel that actively participating in something universally acknowledged as dishonorable diminishes the subsequent good. Our actions must be judged, and not simply overlooked because a small evil is overshadowed by a larger good. People need to hold themselves to a higher level and take into account their actions.