Consequentialism

Consequentialism is a class of normative, teleological ethical theories that holds that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgment about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right act (or omission from acting) is one that will produce a good outcome, or consequence.

Overview

In an extreme form, the idea of consequentialism is commonly encapsulated in the English saying, "the end justifies the means", meaning that if a goal is morally important enough, any method of achieving it is acceptable.

Consequentialism is usually contrasted with deontological ethics (or deontology), in that deontology, in which rules and moral duty are central, derives the rightness or wrongness of one's conduct from the character of the behaviour itself rather than the outcomes of the conduct.

Types of Consequentialism

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is one of the most well-known and influential theories of consequentialism. It asserts that the best action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as that which produces the greatest well-being of the greatest number.

State consequentialism

State consequentialism, or Mohist consequentialism, is an ethical theory that evaluates the moral worth of an action based on how much it contributes to the basic goods of a state.

Ethical egoism

Ethical egoism can be understood as a consequentialist theory according to which the consequences for the individual agent are taken to matter more than any other result.

Criticisms

Consequentialism is criticized for what it theoretically permits. It seemingly requires that one violate the rights of some so that others may prosper. Some consequentialists defend their theories from this objection by arguing that the rights of individuals are goods to be maximized like any other.

See also

• Ethics
• Deontological ethics
• Utilitarianism
• State consequentialism
• Ethical egoism

References

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  Demosthenes, ancient Greek orator
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  Jeremy Bentham, philosopher and founder of utilitarianism
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  Max Weber, sociologist and political economist
• Bernard Williams, philosopher known for his critique of utilitarianism
  Bernard Williams, philosopher known for his critique of utilitarianism