Consequentialism A Moral Theory - 1490 Words

Consequentialism is the moral theory that an action is only morally permissible if the consequences of the act best promote the â€Å"overall good†. The Demandingness Objection states that a moral theory can only be considered a moral theory if it allows the agent to live a content life and does not consume it. In this essay I will show how the demands of consequentialism undermine the agent’s ability to live a comfortable life. (H. Gene Blocker, p2) Tim Mulgan breaks down arguments about Consequentialism into three separate processes, which I will attempt to use as I argue that Consequentialism places unreasonable demands on it’s agents: â€Å"1. Consequentialism makes demand D; 2. D is an unreasonable demand for a moral theory to make; therefore, 3. Consequentialism makes unreasonable demands.† (Tim Mulgan, 2001, p25). At first Consequentialism seems like a plausible theory to adopt. It seems right that if we value something, such as happiness (utilitarianism), we must do our utmost to maximise this. If one action results in a ‘good’ outcome but so does another action, our intuition would tell us to perform the action that promotes a greater utility even though they are both intrinsically good actions. This is the demand that consequentialism asks but this demand does not make it too demanding; it is the perpetuity of the demand that can be seen as irksome in practice. Throughout an agent’s life he or she must always act as to bring about the best possible outcome and if anShow MoreRelated Kai Nielsen’s Support of Consequentialism and Rejection of Deontology1484 Words   |  6 PagesKai Nielsen’s Support of Consequentialism and Rejection of Deontology Kai Nielsen defended consequentialism and showed how it can still agree with commonsense, deontological convictions in his article â€Å"Traditional Morality and Utilitarianism.† His article focused on closing the gulf between consequentialism and deontology by showing how closely they can agree, and he further evaluated the systems and found that consequentialism as he sees it should be practiced is morally superior to traditionalRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Integrity Objection1336 Words   |  6 Pagesis a counter-argument to consequentialism first proposed by Bernard Williams in 1973. It problematizes consequentialist moral philosophy on the grounds that it forces an agent to forfeit their ‘integrity’ – their character and personal values – in order to follow an impartial moral calculus. When an agent performs an action which is morally correct according to a consequentialist calculation, they may experience guilt, sadness, or other negative emotio ns despite the moral rightness of what they didRead MoreEthics : Ethics And Ethics1468 Words   |  6 Pagesdistinct schools of thought, and each differentiate through moral intentions. Consequentialism relies on the consequences of an action in order to distinguish whether or not something is morally acceptable. Deontology considers the morality of an action by one’s reason for doing a certain deed. Lastly, virtue ethics bases morality off of virtuous character, and how a virtuous person would act given a certain predicament. Ultimately, consequentialism provides the most practical explanation for morality dueRead More Deontological Moral Theory Essay1231 Words   |  5 Pages Deontological moral theory is a Non-Consequentialist moral theory. While consequentialists believe the ends always justify the means, deontologists assert that the rightness of an action is not simply dependent on maximizing the good, if that action goes against what is considered moral. It is the in herent nature of the act alone that determines its ethical standing. For example, imagine a situation where there are four critical condition patients in a hospital who each need a different organ inRead MoreConsequences Of Climate Change : Consequentialism And Environmental Ethics1167 Words   |  5 PagesConsequences of Climate Change: Consequentialism and Environmental Ethics A somewhat commonly held concern is that consequentialism is an inadequate moral theory for tackling issues of environmental ethics. In this paper I will argue that consequentialism can successfully respond to climate change by, at times, evaluating the morality of character traits instead of actions. First, I will provide a couple major objections that consequentialism must overcome if it is to be successful in addressingRead MoreThree Approaches to Making Ethical Decisions Within an Educational Institution1700 Words   |  7 Pageseducational institutions. Philosophical, social and moral principles and values accentuate ethical decision-making and shape the foundation for understanding the relationship between an individuals values and decisions made in educational institutions. Administrating what an individual knows is right is not always straightforward, and determining what is right is often difficult (Beckner, 2004). An exact collection of ethical principles and moral concepts in decision-making does not exist. An understandingRead MoreDeontological Moral Theory Essay1244 Words   |  5 PagesDeontological moral theory is a Non-Consequentialist moral theory. While consequentialists believe the ends always justify the means, deontologists assert that the rightness of an action is not simply dependent on maximizing the good, if that action goes against what is considered moral. It is the inherent nature of the act alone that determines its ethical standing. For example, imagine a situation where there are four critical condition patients in a hospital who each need a different organ inRead MoreR v. Dudley and Stephens1303 Words   |  5 Pagesand Stephens, the two sailors should not have been found guilty or charged with murder. I will examine the case with two theories of punishment, retributivism and consequentialism. I am using these two different frameworks because they both have two differen t requirements in order to justify punishment. Retributivism requires agents to be morally responsible, while consequentialism requires an agent to be rational. It is important to distinguish how the same action can be found guilty or non guiltyRead MoreDeontological Ethics : Ethics And Ethics1256 Words   |  6 Pagesnomenclature of moral theories that guide and assess our choices of what we ought to do (deontic theories), in contrast to (aretaic [virtue] theories) that—fundamentally, at least—guide and assess what kind of person (in terms of character traits) we are and should be. In contemporary moral philosophy, deontology is one of those kinds of normative theories regarding which choices are morally required, forbidden, or permitted. In other words, deontology falls within the domain of moral theories that guideRead MoreTo Apply The Moral Theory To Janice’S Case, We Must Consider1556 Words   |  7 PagesTo apply the moral theory to Janice’s case, we must consider the possible actions the physician can take and find the utility of them both. Then, we can determine which action the physician is morally obligated to do. There really are only two actions that the physician can perform: administer the life-ending drug, or not administer the life ending drug. If the drug is administered, Janice will die. Her pain will end, and before she dies, she will feel some pleasure that the physician is carrying