Transcript Chapter 3 Normative Ethics

Normative Ethics
Section 2
Consequentialism & Its Critics
Consequences and Rightness
Consequences
relevant to
rightness of
action:
 intended ones
 all foreseeable
ones.
Consequences NOT
relevant to
rightness of
action:
 unforeseeable
ones.
Note: consequences include physical changes
effected by an action.
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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.
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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.
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Intentions


Not necessarily crucial to rightness of action,
but still important in ethics.
Enable actions to be identified.
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Motive & Character

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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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Normative Theory
 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.
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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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