consequentialism

consequentialism

English

Etymology

consequential +‎ -ism, coined by British analytic philosopher G. E. M. Anscombe in 1958.[1]

Noun

consequentialism (countable and uncountable, plural consequentialisms)

1. (ethics) The ethical study of morals, duties and rights with an approach that focuses consequences of a particular action or cause.
2. (ethics) The belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment about an action. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence.

Hyponyms

• utilitarianism

Translations

belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment

Czech: konsekvencialismus m Hungarian: konzekvencializmus / konszekvencializmus, következményetika

See also

• deontology
• virtue ethics
• the end justifies the means

References

1. G. E. M. Anscombe (January 1958), “Modern Moral Philosophy”, in Philosophy, volume 33, issue 124, DOI:10.1017/s0031819100037943, JSTOR 3749051, pages 1–19

Further reading

• consequentialism at OneLook Dictionary Search