Consequentialism | Ethics Defined

McCombs School of Business

18 Dec 201801:48

Summary

TLDRConsequentialism is an ethical theory that assesses the rightness of actions based on their outcomes. It supports morally questionable actions if they lead to greater good, as illustrated by utilitarianism's 'greatest good for the greatest number' and hedonism's pleasure principle. However, it faces criticism for its unpredictability and potential to justify morally repugnant means for good ends, such as hypothetically enslaving a minority for global economic benefit.

Takeaways

📚 Consequentialism is an ethical theory that evaluates actions based on their outcomes.
🤔 The theory suggests that actions like lying can be morally acceptable if they lead to positive consequences, such as saving a life.
🏆 Two prominent forms of consequentialism are utilitarianism and hedonism, each with its own criteria for judging the goodness of actions.
👥 Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing happiness for the greatest number of people, while hedonism is concerned with producing pleasure or avoiding pain.
🔮 One of the criticisms of consequentialism is the difficulty in predicting the actual outcomes of actions, as the future is uncertain.
🙅‍♂️ Consequentialism can sometimes lead to morally objectionable decisions, even if the predicted outcomes are positive for the majority.
💡 The script provides a hypothetical example where enslaving a small portion of the population could theoretically benefit the majority, but is ethically repugnant.
🤝 The concept of 'the end justifies the means' is central to classic consequentialism, emphasizing the importance of outcomes over intentions.
🚫 Ethical dilemmas arise when consequentialist reasoning conflicts with widely held moral beliefs and intuitions.
🔄 The theory challenges traditional moral absolutism by suggesting that the morality of an action is not fixed but dependent on its consequences.
🧐 Consequentialism invites reflection on the balance between individual rights and the collective good, and the complexities involved in making ethical judgments.

Q & A

What is consequentialism in ethics?
-Consequentialism is an ethical theory that evaluates the rightness or wrongness of an action based on its consequences or outcomes.
How does consequentialism view lying in general?
-According to consequentialism, lying is generally considered wrong, but it may be justified if the lie leads to a positive outcome, such as saving a life.
What are the two main examples of consequentialism mentioned in the script?
-The two main examples of consequentialism mentioned are utilitarianism and hedonism.
What standard does utilitarianism use to judge consequences?
-Utilitarianism judges consequences based on the 'greatest good for the greatest number' principle, aiming to maximize overall happiness or well-being.
How does hedonism define 'good' in terms of consequences?
-Hedonism defines 'good' as an action or outcome that produces pleasure or avoids pain.
What criticism does consequentialism face regarding the predictability of consequences?
-Consequentialism is criticized for the difficulty or impossibility of knowing the actual consequences of an action in advance, as no one can predict the future with certainty.
Can consequentialism sometimes lead to morally objectionable decisions?
-Yes, consequentialism can lead to decisions that are morally objectionable, even if the consequences are good, because it focuses solely on the outcomes without considering the morality of the means.
What is the concept of 'the end justifies the means' in consequentialism?
-The concept of 'the end justifies the means' in consequentialism refers to the idea that the morality of an action is determined solely by its outcomes, regardless of the methods used to achieve those outcomes.
Why might most people disagree with an idea that benefits the majority, as described in the script?
-Most people would disagree with such an idea because it involves morally unacceptable means, like enslaving a portion of the population, even if it leads to a better outcome for the majority.
How does consequentialism handle situations where the consequences are uncertain or unknown?
-Consequentialism does not provide a clear method for handling situations with uncertain or unknown consequences, which is one of the challenges of applying this ethical theory.
What ethical dilemma is presented in the script involving the world economy and enslavement?
-The ethical dilemma presented is a hypothetical scenario where enslaving 2% of the population could strengthen the world economy and improve the well-being of the majority, raising questions about the morality of such actions under consequentialist thinking.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Consequentialism: Ethics of Outcomes

This paragraph introduces consequentialism as an ethical theory that evaluates the rightness of actions based on their outcomes. It contrasts the general moral stance against lying with the consequentialist view that lying could be justified if it saves a life. The paragraph also distinguishes between two forms of consequentialism: utilitarianism, which seeks the greatest good for the majority, and hedonism, which values actions that produce pleasure or avoid pain. The critique of consequentialism is highlighted, pointing out the difficulty in predicting outcomes and the potential for morally questionable decisions that may still have positive consequences, such as the hypothetical scenario of enslaving a minority for the benefit of the majority. The classic consequentialist principle that 'the end justifies the means' is also mentioned.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Consequentialism

Consequentialism is an ethical theory that evaluates the rightness or wrongness of actions based on their outcomes or consequences. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing different forms of consequentialist thought. The script uses the example of lying to save a person's life to illustrate how consequentialism might justify actions typically deemed morally wrong.

💡Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism that judges actions based on the principle of 'the greatest good for the greatest number.' It is a key concept in the video, which uses it to explain how an action's morality is determined by its ability to maximize overall happiness or well-being. The script contrasts it with hedonism to highlight different consequentialist approaches.

💡Hedonism

Hedonism, as discussed in the script, is another form of consequentialism that defines 'good' in terms of pleasure or the avoidance of pain. It is relevant to the video's exploration of ethical theories that focus on consequences, emphasizing the pursuit of personal pleasure as a moral guide, in contrast to utilitarianism's broader societal focus.

💡Ethical Theory

An ethical theory provides a framework for determining moral principles and making judgments about right and wrong. In the context of the video, consequentialism is an example of such a theory, and the script explores its implications and criticisms, highlighting the importance of ethical theories in shaping moral decisions.

💡Consequences

Consequences refer to the outcomes or results of actions, which are the primary focus of consequentialist ethical theories. The script emphasizes that the morality of an action is judged by its consequences, as seen in the example where lying might be morally permissible if it saves a life.

💡Moral Dilemmas

Moral dilemmas arise when there is a conflict between moral principles or when the outcome of an action is uncertain. The video script touches on this by discussing the difficulty of predicting consequences and the potential for consequentialism to lead to objectionable decisions, such as the hypothetical scenario of enslaving a portion of the population for the greater good.

💡Greatest Good for the Greatest Number

This phrase encapsulates the utilitarian principle of maximizing overall well-being or happiness. The script uses this principle to illustrate how utilitarianism evaluates actions, suggesting that an action is right if it benefits the most people, even if it involves moral compromises.

💡Pleasure

Pleasure, in the context of hedonism, is the pursuit of personal enjoyment and the avoidance of pain, which is considered the ultimate good. The script contrasts this individual-focused approach with the more collective approach of utilitarianism, showing different ways of assessing the goodness of actions based on their consequences.

💡Objectionable Decisions

Objectionable decisions are those that might be morally or ethically controversial, even if they lead to seemingly positive outcomes. The video script uses the example of a world economy strengthened by enslaving a minority to highlight how consequentialism can sometimes justify actions that are generally considered morally unacceptable.

💡The End Justifies the Means

This phrase captures the consequentialist idea that the morality of an action is determined solely by its outcome, regardless of the action itself. The script critiques this notion by presenting a scenario where the majority benefits at the expense of a minority, questioning whether the ends can truly justify morally questionable means.

💡Uncertainty

Uncertainty refers to the unpredictability of future outcomes, which is a key criticism of consequentialism presented in the script. It points out that because no one can know the future with certainty, it can be difficult to make ethical decisions based solely on potential consequences.

Highlights

Consequentialism is an ethical theory that evaluates actions based on their consequences.

Lying is considered wrong, but consequentialism allows it if it saves a life.

Utilitarianism and hedonism are two examples of consequentialism.

Utilitarianism measures consequences by the 'greatest good for the greatest number' principle.

Hedonism defines 'good' as consequences that produce pleasure or avoid pain.

Consequentialism's criticism includes the difficulty of predicting outcomes.

The impossibility of knowing the future with certainty is a challenge for consequentialism.

Consequentialism can lead to morally objectionable decisions despite good outcomes.

An example scenario involves enslaving a minority for the greater economic good.

The majority might benefit, but ethical objections would arise from such a consequentialist approach.

Classic consequentialism is criticized for the 'the end justifies the means' philosophy.

Economists' hypothetical proof of economic strength through enslavement is a controversial example.

Most people would not agree with enslaving even a small population for economic benefits.

Consequentialism's ethical dilemma is highlighted by the conflict between outcomes and moral principles.

The transcript challenges the reader to consider the complexities of consequentialist decision-making.

The ethical theory of consequentialism raises questions about the morality of actions based solely on their results.