Legal Definitions - consequentialism

Consequentialism is an ethical theory that determines the moral rightness or wrongness of an action based solely on its outcomes or consequences. In simpler terms, an action is considered good if it leads to a desirable result, and bad if it leads to an undesirable result. The focus is on the end result, rather than on the nature of the action itself or the intentions behind it.

• Example 1: Public Health Policy

  A government agency is considering implementing a mandatory vaccination program for a highly contagious disease. While some individuals may object to mandatory vaccinations on grounds of personal liberty, a consequentialist approach would weigh the potential negative consequences (such as individual discomfort or perceived infringement on freedom) against the overwhelmingly positive consequences (preventing widespread illness, reducing hospitalizations, and saving lives across the population).

  This illustrates consequentialism because the decision to implement the program is judged by its anticipated results: the significant reduction of disease and death for the greater good of society, rather than focusing on the inherent nature of mandatory directives.

• Example 2: Business Decision-Making

  A company discovers that one of its product lines, while profitable, uses manufacturing processes that cause minor environmental pollution. The company must decide whether to continue production, switch to a more expensive but environmentally friendly process, or discontinue the product line entirely. A consequentialist perspective would evaluate these options by their outcomes: the profit generated versus the environmental damage caused, or the increased cost versus the benefit of reduced pollution. If switching to a cleaner process, despite higher costs, leads to a net positive outcome for the environment and the company's long-term reputation, it would be the preferred consequentialist choice.

  This demonstrates consequentialism because the ethical choice for the company is determined by the overall consequences of each action – balancing financial outcomes against environmental and reputational impacts – to achieve the most beneficial result.

• Example 3: Emergency Medical Triage

  During a mass casualty event with limited medical resources, a doctor faces a situation where they can either spend critical time treating one severely injured patient with a low chance of survival, or treat three moderately injured patients who have a high chance of full recovery. A consequentialist approach would likely prioritize treating the three moderately injured patients, as this action would result in the greatest number of lives saved and the most overall positive health outcomes, even if it means the severely injured patient might not receive immediate attention.

  This example highlights consequentialism because the doctor's decision is based on maximizing positive outcomes – saving the most lives – rather than on the inherent duty to treat every patient equally or the severity of any single patient's injury.