Zombie Neurogenesis

Main character, Kieran, in rabid zombie state

The show, In The Flesh, takes place right after a massive event known as The Rising, during which over 140,000 rose from the dead and terrorized humanity. To combat the brain gormandizing enemy, residents of a town called Roarton, in England, organized a Human Volunteer Force (HVF), and sought to eliminate as many zombies as possible. A great war takes place between the undead and their living adversaries, and after some time, with great losses on both sides, The HVF seem to have squelched the uprising. The remaining zombies are taken to a government treatment center, where they are labeled as Partially Deceased Syndrome sufferers (PDS) and medicated to override their rabid state. The daily spinal injections of neuro-tryptamine support neurogenesis within the effected brains, and return the zombies to their prior human form. These patients are then gradually reintegrated into their old lives, with their families and friends. This, however, will not be an easy feat, as the HVF--strong opposers of PDS treatment--are ready and willing to eliminate all veterans of The Rising. The HVFs fear of what they consider to be the zombie's inevitable return to the rabid, brain devouring state, is what fuels their ambitions to remove PDS sufferers from society. 

Kieran after medication 

The Kantian point of view would support the governments implementation of PDS rehabilitation centers, because they are seizing the opportunity to make a positive impact on the zombie population. Instead of brutally massacring all of the walking dead, the government is utilizing available resources to remove the PDS sufferers from their infectious zombie state. If the zombies are able to be controlled, and can effectively reintegrate back into society, there is no reason not to help them. The categorical imperative presented by Kant "holds people accountable for their inner value of humanity", which is to say that if one individual, or in this case a group of individuals, can help another,  they should do so (Salazar 1392). 

Kieran after being reintegrated to normalcy.

The societal benefits associated with the rehabilitation centers would cause a Utilitarian philosopher to support the governments decision. The program is beneficial to the community of Roarton, and the world as a whole. By medicating the rabid PDS sufferers, the government is able to reduce the suffering of not only the already infected zombies, but also what would have been future victims of zombie hunting. Additionally, the families of these PDS victims who have previously passed away, are awarded a second chance with their loved one. Therefore, it is clear that the governments zombie treatment would "substantially impact the benefits that others receive", which describes utilitarian ethics (Salazar, 1393).  

I agree with both the Kantian and Utilitarian perspectives on this particular issue. I think that the government is right in doing everything they can to help the infected zombies. By using modern medicine, they improve the quality of the zombies "lives" and enable them to return as functioning members of society; they are giving the PDS sufferers a second chance at life. If the zombies were simply shot dead, it would surely solve the problem, but it would neither benefit society, nor demonstrate inner value for humanity.

Salazar, Heather. “Self-Interest,” The New Catholic Encyclopedia, Series on Ethics and Morality, ed. by Robert  Fastiggi. Gale Cengage Learning, 2013