Consequentialism

Question 1

Basic Consequentialism

Answer 1

do the action that produces the best good

Question 2

Three versions of consequentialism

Answer 2

1. Produce most good and least pain
2. Produce greatest satisfied desire and least unsatisfied desire
3. Produce best possible combination of pleasure, knowledge, friendship, freedom, beauty, and virtue with as little pain, ignorance, etc

Question 3

Standard objections to Consequentialism

Answer 3

1. Ends don’t always justify the means
2. Too demanding objection
3. Ignorance of the future objection

Question 4

Ends don’t always justify the means objection

Answer 4

Might have to do wrong to produce the best consequences, If a moral theory tells one to do something wrong it is false

Question 5

To demanding objection

Answer 5

Worng to produce less then the best consequences, but it is not wrong to keepboth kidneys, or find a job that is not a doctor or money maker, or to not send every dollar to charity

Question 6

Ignorance of the future objection

Answer 6

1. If consequentialism is true, then we ought to produce the best consequences overall
2. But we have no idea which action will produce the best consequences overall.
3. If we have no idea how to do something we cannot do it
4. If we cannot do something, it is not true that we ought to do it
5. So it is not true that we should produce the best consequences
6. So consequentialism is false