Consequentialist Theories (Teleological)

Consequentialist Theories (Teleological)

1. The morality of an action is determined by its non-moral consequences; if the consequences are good, the act is good. If the consequences are bad, the act is bad.

2. Egoism

   • Egoists believe that in deciding the morality of an action, we should consider only the consequences for ourselves
     • Many egoists (non-hedonists), identify the good not with pleasure but with knowledge, power, or rational self-interest
   • Contends that we act morally when we act in a way that promotes our own best long-term interests

3. Hedonism

   • The view that pleasure is intrinsically worthwhile and is the human good
     • Many egoists, not all, are hedonistic
     • Epicurus argued: people should live so as to produce as much pleasure for themselves as possible
       • Pleasure: sober thinking rather than sensual gratification
     • Some associate hedonism with self-realization: the promotion of all of one's capacities
       • Popularized by Abraham Maslow
     • Plto
       • Three active principles within each person: reason, appetite, and spirit
         • When all three act in harmony, self-realization
     • Francis Herbert
       • Satisfaction is only possible when one achieves self realization

4. Utilitarianism

   • Developed and formulated by Jeremy Benthman and Stuart Mill
     • Actions are right to the extent that they promote pleasure, wrong to the extent that they produce pain
   • The theory that we should act in such a way that our actions produce the greatest happiness or pleasure
     • The standard of morality is the promotion of everyone's best interest
   • Principle of utility approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question
     • Utility is the property in any object, whereby it tends to produce the benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the parties whose interest is considered
   • Act Utilitarianism
     • Contends that we should act so as to produce the greatest happiness for the most people
   • Rule Utilitarinism
     • Act so that the rules governing our actions produces the greatest happiness for the most people
   • Ideal Utilitarianism
     • G.E. Moore and Hastings Rashdall