Consequentialism

^^CONSEQUENTIALISM^^

• Consequentialism → States that consequences define the morality of the action
  • “The end justifies the means.”
  • Usually explained in terms of the balance of happiness that will result from doing or refraining from something
• Consequentialism is a broader family of moral theories which judges the moral value of an action based on the resulting consequences
  • Utilitarianism, another moral theory, is under Consequentialism
  • Utilitarianism is a branch of Consequentialism because it assesses the consequences of acts in terms of happiness or unhappiness

%%Utilitarianism and Consequentialism%%

• Although Utilitarianism is often referred to as Hedonic because it is concerned with happiness as the ultimate criterion of good and bad and right and wrong, Utilitarianism is primarily a form of Consequentialism.
  • Utilitarianism makes the consequences of an action the basis upon which it is to be judged.
• Utilitarianism has two important aspects. These two aspects are distinct and separate. Neither implies the other:
  • The Hedonic → Its concern with pleasure and happiness
  • The Consequentialist → Its focus upon the consequences of the action
• However, Utilitarianism is not the same as consequentialism. It is simply a branch of the wider spectrum encompassing consequentialism.