Consequentialism Flashcards
Absolute rule
a rule that may never permissibly be broken.
Act utilitarianism
The moral theory that says that an action is morally required just because it does more to improve overall well-being than any other action you could have done in the circumstances.
Consequentialism
The family of moral theories that say that an action or a policy is morally required just because it produces the best overall results.
Decision procedure
a method for reliably guiding our decisions, so that when we use it well, we make decisions as we ought to.
Intrinsically good
valuable in and of itself, and worth having for its own sake
Moral community
that group of individuals who are morally important in their own right and, as such, are owed a certain amount of respect. Membership in the moral community imposes a duty on everyone else to take one’s needs seriously, for one’s own sake.
Optimifc
producing the best results.
Optimifc social rule
a social rule which, if nearly everyone accepted it, would yield better results than any competing social rule.
Principle of utility
the central doctrine of act utilitarianism.
Rule consequentialism
the view that an action is morally right just because it is required by an optimifc social rule.
Standard of rightness
a principle that tells us the conditions under which actions are morally right.
Supererogation
action that is “above and beyond the call of duty.” Vicarious punishment
