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The idea of impartiality forms a foundation for the vast majority of the ways in which the Western world does ethics , underpinning most normative ethical systems both consequential and deontological . For example , one of the central tenets of utilitarianism is the idea that everybody should “ count for one , and nobody more than one ” ( Mill , 1863 ), this is known to Mill as Bentham ’ s dictum . Taking into account that the principle of utility ( the greatest good for the greatest number ) is usually how humans go about making ethical decisions , we can see how the principle of utility weighs on our ethical decision making . Furthermore , a principal maxim of Kant ’ s categorical imperative is to treat someone “ never merely as a means to an end , but always at the same time as an end .” ( Kant , 1785 ), which clearly falls under our previously stated definition of impartiality . It also seems that treating everyone with the same respect regardless of who they are is intuitive to moral behaviour because giving people preferential treatment arbitrarily or on an irrelevant basis ( for example race or gender ) seems unquestionably wrong . The principle of impartiality can also be observed in arguably the most influential moral system to Western society , that of Christianity . Throughout the Old and New Testament , impartiality is taught as central to living a good Christian life . In Matthew 7:12 , Jesus notably paraphrases Leviticus 19:34 , declaring , “ all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you , do ye even so to them : for this is the law ”. ( Matthew , 7:12 ). This ‘ golden rule ’ of Christianity highlights the idea that the moral agent should treat everyone with equal consideration as one wishes to be treated themselves .
With Christianity being perhaps the biggest influence on Western society , it may be more helpful to look at the role that impartiality plays in the modern age . Arguably the second most important ideal that the West holds to be sacred , even more so than Christianity , is our political system of democracy , in which the principle of impartiality can also be seen to work . The
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