Consequentialism

Consequentialism

• Results based ethics

• Upholds that the morally upright is the one with best overall consequences

• personally driven

2 Principles of Consequentialism

• Whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of the act

• The more good consequences an act produces, the better or more right that act would be.

Difference of Consequentialism from Situation Ethics

• Consequentialism - starts from self-interest

• Situation Ethics - want what’s best for all

Teleological Ethics

• another name for Consequentialism

• Telos (greek) = end, result, effect, goal

Forms of Consequentialism

• Hedonism (pleasure for one’s self)

• Utilitarianism (pleasure and benefit/welfare of the common good)

• Act Consequentialism

• Rule Consequentialism

Hedonism

• basic, natural form

• pleasurable = baseline of happiness

• for the self

• states that people should maximize human pleasure

Utilitarianism

• pleasure and benefit/welfare of the common good

• what’s best for everyone

• our own pleasure's sometimes diminish for the good of all = sacrifice and compromise

Example of a situation where utilitarianism is used

voting = (to make everyone’s voices be heard in the context of the common good

Act Consequentialism

• a flexible system

• adjusts the means to reach the end/goal

• laws are amended to make it better for the people

• ex. teacher adjusts the extension deadline and is applied to all

Rule Consequentialism

• a strict system

• even though there are minor adjustments, it still follows bigger rules

• it represents what is good for all, a fair playing field that protects all people

• ex. constitutions cannot be easily bent