### 날짜 : 2023-12-13 18:18 ### 주제 : consequentialist #ethics #공부 ---- > **Consequentialism** is an ethical theory that evaluates the morality of actions based on their consequences or outcomes. In other words, consequentialism asserts that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the overall result it produces. The central idea of consequentialism is that actions are morally good if they lead to desirable outcomes and morally wrong if they lead to undesirable or harmful outcomes. Key points about consequentialism include: 1. **Focus on Outcomes:** Consequentialism emphasizes the importance of looking at the consequences of actions to make moral judgments. It doesn't primarily consider the inherent nature of actions or the intentions behind them. 2. **Maximizing Good:** The central goal of consequentialism is to maximize the overall good or value. This good can be happiness, well-being, pleasure, utility, or any other measure of what is considered valuable. 3. **Utility and Happiness:** Utilitarianism, a specific form of consequentialism, focuses on maximizing utility, often equated with happiness or well-being. Utilitarians believe that actions should be judged based on their ability to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. 4. **Quantitative and Qualitative Considerations:** Consequentialism takes into account both the quantity and quality of outcomes. It considers factors like the intensity, duration, and extent of pleasure or suffering produced by an action. 5. **Universal Application:** Consequentialism is often seen as a universal ethical theory because it provides a rational and impartial method for making ethical decisions that can be applied universally, regardless of cultural or personal beliefs. 6. **Critiques:** Consequentialism has faced various criticisms. Some argue that it can lead to morally objectionable outcomes when it justifies sacrificing the well-being of a minority for the greater good of the majority. Others question its ability to accurately measure or predict consequences. 7. **Branches of Consequentialism:** While utilitarianism is a well-known form of consequentialism, there are other branches and variations of this ethical theory, each with its own specific principles and criteria for evaluating consequences. In summary, consequentialism is an ethical theory that asserts that the morality of actions is determined by the outcomes they produce. It is a broad framework that includes various approaches and principles for evaluating consequences, and it often serves as a foundation for ethical decision-making in fields such as ethics, public policy, and moral philosophy. ### 출처(참고문헌) - ### 연결문서 - [[Utilitarianism(공리주의)]] - [[이마누엘 칸트 (Immanuel Kant)]] - [[11.3 Ethical Decision-Making Framework]]