Consequentialism

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Consequentialism is a moral philosophy that holds that the Morality of an action should be determined by its consequences. In other words, an action is right if it leads to the greatest good or Happiness for the greatest number of people.

History of Consequentialism

The concept of consequentialism dates back to ancient times, with philosophers such as Aristotle and Epicurus advocating for a form of consequentialism. However, modern consequentialism as we know it today began to take shape in the 19th century with the works of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.

Bentham’s Consequentialism

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was an English philosopher who argued that the Morality of an action should be determined by its consequences. In his book “An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation” (1789), Bentham outlined a system of Consequentialist ethics that emphasized the use of pleasure and pain as measures of moral worth.

Mill’s Consequentialism

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was an English philosopher who expanded upon Bentham’s ideas and developed a more nuanced form of consequentialism. In his book “Utilitarianism” (1861), Mill argued that the Morality of an action should be determined by its consequences, but added that there are situations where non-consequentialist considerations should take precedence.

Types of Consequentialism

There are several types of consequentialism, including:

Act utilitarianism

Act utilitarianism holds that the Morality of an action is determined by its consequences for the greatest number of people. According to this theory, an action is right if it leads to more Happiness than any other possible action.

Rule utilitarianism

Rule utilitarianism holds that the Morality of an action is determined by whether it conforms to a moral rule. According to this theory, an action is right if it conforms to a rule that would produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Criticisms and Limitations

Consequentialist ethics has been subject to various criticisms and limitations, including:

The Ship of Theseus Problem

The Ship of Theseus problem raises questions about the nature of identity and change. If a ship is repaired and replaced with new parts over time, when does it cease to be the same ship? Does it still have the same identity? This problem highlights the challenges of applying Consequentialist ethics in situations where changes are inevitable.

The Trolley problem

The Trolley problem raises questions about moral decision-making. A runaway trolley is headed towards a group of people who are unable to move and will be killed if the trolley continues on its course. Do you pull the lever, killing one person but saving many others? Or do you do nothing, allowing the trolley to kill everyone?

The Moral Problem of Self-interest

Consequentialist ethics can lead to a moral problem of Self-interest. If an action is right because it leads to more Happiness for oneself than any other possible action, then who decides what constitutes “Happiness” and why? This raises questions about the Morality of actions that benefit oneself at the expense of others.

Conclusion

Consequentialism remains a widely debated and influential form of moral philosophy. While its criticisms and limitations have been identified, Consequentialist ethics continues to be a powerful tool for evaluating the Morality of actions.

Key Figures

Key Works