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Analysis of Consequentialism and Its Critics in Normative Ethics

Explore the relevance of consequences to the rightness of actions, including intended and foreseeable consequences. Delve into the Principle of Double Effect, intentions, moral character, and the distinction between acts and omissions in ethical evaluations.

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Analysis of Consequentialism and Its Critics in Normative Ethics

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  1. Normative Ethics Section 2 Consequentialism & Its Critics

  2. Consequences relevant to rightness of action: intended ones all foreseeable ones. Consequences NOT relevant to rightness of action: unforeseeable ones. Consequences and Rightness Note: consequences include physical changes effected by an action.

  3. Principle of Double Effect • Intended consequences of acts and omissions are morally relevant, but foreseen though unintended consequences are not usually relevant. Consider why people are attracted to this principle & appraise it.

  4. Principle of Double Effect • Not needed to explain judgements about certain examples (e.g. self-defence). • These judgements can be explained better on a consequentialist basis.

  5. Intentions • Not necessarily crucial to rightness of action, but still important in ethics. • Enable actions to be identified.

  6. Morality of action as distinguishable from that of character & of motive. A consequentialist account can be given for both - morality of action - morality of character & motive. Motive & Character

  7. Principle of Acts & Omissions • Foreseen consequences of acts are morally relevant, but foreseen consequences of omissions are NOT always morally relevant, and this is so even when the consequences of those acts & omissions are identical. Consider why people are attracted to this principle & appraise it.

  8. Principle of Acts & Omissions • Not needed to explain judgements about certain examples (e.g. poisoning). • These judgements can be explained better on a consequentialist basis.

  9. Negative Responsibility • Agents are just as responsible for their omissions (what they don’t do / fail to do), as for their acts. Appraise the idea of negative responsibility.

  10. Theories with a place for moral rules are preferable to those that relate solely to single actions. Consequentialist theories of moral rules are preferable to intuitionist ones. The former are able to appraise & justify rules. Normative Theory

  11. Practice-consequentialism • Practices, rather than mere abstract rules, benefit society. • Those practices involve human solidarity. • They can be actual or possible. • Practice-consequentialism can address conflicting rules.

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