Ethics 5: Double doctrine effect

Question 1

Premise for when to use DDE

Answer 1

When an action that may cause a good and a bad outcome.

All criteria must be met for such action to be justified

Question 2

Requirements of the DDE

Answer 2

1) The act must be good, or at least morally neutral
2) The agent only intends the good effect. The bad effect may be foreseen, tolerated and permitted but not intended. If good can be achieved without the bad, do this.
3) The bad effect must not be a means to the good effect. If the good effect were a result of the bad effect the agent would intend bad in pursuit of good.
4) The good effect must outweigh the bad effect.

Question 3

What are the purposes of these 4 requirements?

Answer 3

• Actions that are morally wrong per se (because they violate a moral rule) cannot be justified through a good effect.
• That actions that are undertaken with a malicious or ill will, or for the purposes of securing the bad effect, are not justified.
• Proportionality, that the action can be justified by reference to a net good effect.

Question 4

Problems with the DDE

Answer 4

• Difficult to make decisions about what effect is intended and what is foreseen
• Problem of description and re-description. Does the way something is described change the action we take

Question 5

Take home

Answer 5

• Intentions matter, be open about them.
• Take responsibility for actions, even if you do not intend them.
• Think about how the action looks to others. How would you describe it?