Problems for Consequentialism

Summary

This script discusses consequentialism, a moral theory focused on the consequences of actions. It raises concerns about consequentialism's potential to demand unjust actions, violate rights, ignore past commitments, and be overly demanding, requiring individuals to prioritize global happiness over personal relationships and commitments. The script challenges the theory's dismissal of special relationships and its robotic approach to morality, suggesting that consequentialism may conflict with our intuitive moral understanding.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Consequentialism is a moral theory that judges actions based on their outcomes, specifically whether they maximize overall happiness or utility.
• 🔍 The script discusses arguments against consequentialism, suggesting that it may conflict with our moral intuitions about justice, rights, and personal relationships.
• 🏛️ Consequentialism may demand actions that are unjust if they lead to the best overall consequences, such as framing an innocent person to prevent a riot.
• 🛡️ It can also justify actions that violate individual rights if they increase overall happiness, like a landlord spying on tenants for personal pleasure without causing direct harm.
• ⏳ The theory is criticized for ignoring 'backward-looking' reasons, such as past commitments like promises, focusing only on future consequences.
• 🚫 Consequentialism is seen as overly demanding, suggesting that any action that doesn't maximize happiness is morally wrong, even personal indulgences that don't harm others.
• 💔 It disregards special relationships, implying that one should treat everyone's happiness equally, which conflicts with our natural inclination to prioritize loved ones.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The script uses a thought experiment of choosing between saving a doctor who could cure cancer or one's own child to illustrate the conflict between consequentialism and personal loyalty.
• 🤝 The theory's demand for impartiality is contrasted with the human tendency to value and protect those closest to us, suggesting that consequentialism dehumanizes moral decision-making.
• 📚 The discussion concludes by distinguishing between act consequentialism (evaluating individual acts) and rule consequentialism (evaluating rules or principles), hinting at a potential resolution to some criticisms.

Q & A

What is consequentialism and why is it being discussed?

Consequentialism is a moral theory that judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on the consequences it produces. It is being discussed to weigh its implications against strongly held moral intuitions and to explore if it aligns with our moral beliefs.

How does consequentialism relate to the concept of justice?

Consequentialism may demand actions that are unjust in certain circumstances if those actions maximize overall happiness or utility. This can lead to situations where an action that is traditionally seen as unjust might be considered morally right by consequentialism.

What is an example given in the script where consequentialism might require an unjust action?

The example given is a scenario where a sheriff frames a stranger to prevent a riot, even though the stranger is innocent. The consequentialist view might justify this action because it leads to the best overall outcome, despite it being unjust.

How does consequentialism view individual rights in comparison to maximizing happiness?

Consequentialism might recommend actions that violate individual rights if doing so leads to a greater overall happiness or utility. It does not inherently respect rights but focuses solely on the consequences of actions.

What is the peeping tom landlord example, and how does it illustrate consequentialism's stance on rights?

The peeping tom landlord example involves a landlord who secretly spies on his tenants for his own pleasure without causing them any harm. Consequentialism might not condemn this action because it increases the landlord's happiness without causing suffering to others, despite it being a violation of privacy rights.

What are 'backwards looking reasons' in the context of consequentialism?

Backwards looking reasons refer to factors from the past, such as promises or commitments, that consequentialism might ignore when evaluating the morality of an action. Consequentialism focuses only on future consequences, not on past actions or obligations.

Why is consequentialism considered too demanding as a moral theory?

Consequentialism is seen as too demanding because it requires individuals to always prioritize actions that maximize overall happiness, even at the cost of personal desires, relationships, and commitments. This can lead to a life that many would consider inhumane or overly self-sacrificing.

How does consequentialism handle the concept of special relationships?

Consequentialism does not recognize special relationships or loyalties. It asserts that everyone's happiness should be considered equally, which can conflict with the human tendency to prioritize the well-being of those closest to us.

What is the sinking ship scenario, and what does it illustrate about consequentialism?

The sinking ship scenario involves choosing between saving a doctor who could cure cancer or saving one's own granddaughter. Consequentialism would dictate saving the doctor to maximize happiness, while most people would likely choose their granddaughter, highlighting the conflict between consequentialist theory and human emotions.

What is the difference between act consequentialism and rule consequentialism mentioned in the script?

Act consequentialism evaluates the morality of a single action based on its consequences, while rule consequentialism evaluates the morality of following a general rule based on the consequences that would result if everyone followed that rule.

Why might some people reject consequentialism based on the arguments presented in the script?

People might reject consequentialism because it can demand actions that are unjust, violate rights, ignore past commitments, be excessively demanding on personal sacrifices, and disregard special relationships, which are aspects of human morality and behavior that many find important.