A member of a certain society allows the In many hospitals and healthcare trusts across the world this is the thought process that is guiding their policies regarding who should be treated in hospitals. What are the disadvantages of consequentialism? Conclusion. Abstract. On the next ward is Patient A who has a curable disease and also is a suitable donor for the other patients. 2. Nonconsequentialism does not deny that consequences can be a factor in determining the rightness of an act. You must consider the advantages and disadvantages of theories and use detailed . Secondly, Utilitarians emphasize that agents are to be neutral in making their decisions. In our text book, Ethical Reasoning, it states that in consequentialism, consequences count, not motives or intentions (Pence, 2011). Simple forms of consequentialism say that the best action is the one that produces the largest total of happiness. It does not allow that the sacrifices imposed on a few are outweighed by the larger sum of advantages enjoyed by many the rights secured by justice are . Advantages And Disadvantages Of Ethics. Here, we explore some of the pros and cons of using consequentialist methodology to guide our ethical decision-making processes in the kidney . Consequentialism says that we can tell if an action is good based on whether it leads to good consequences. ), Public and Private Morality (Cambridge University Press, 1978). Reprinted in Foot (ed.) 9 An essentially contested concept is one concerning which there is no agreement even about what is to count as a central or paradigm instance of it. For example, if George takes the job, this might lead to good consequences in the immediate future. Answer (1 of 7): Consequentialism is the theory of ethics that calls an act "good" if it produces good results. Nonconsequentialism is a type of normative ethical theory that denies that the rightness or wrongness of our conduct is determined solely by the goodness or badness of the consequences of our acts or of the rules to which those acts conform. Name the advantages or disadvantages of applying Jeremy Bentham's ideology of utilitarianism as a determinant of good or evil in the current American society. Fits with Human intuition- one of the greatest strengths of deontology is that it fits with the intuitive knowledge of right and wrong that we all have. When deciding on questions of what is ethically right or wrong utilitarians want to maximise the overall amount of happiness or welfare. So when an individual has a moral choice to make they can ask themselves if there's an appropriate rule to apply and then apply it. Utilitarians do not provide a clear answer to this question. Encourages individual responsibility and accountability. good reasons for such a paradigm shift. In considering everyone equally, Utilitarianism devalues the importance of personal relationships. George has recently completed his PhD in Chemistry, and, like any other PhD candidate, finds it extremely difficult to land a job after completing his degree. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings. Rule utilitarianism is a belief in which, an action is morally right, as long as it justified in accordance to a particular law. This is a moral or ethical theory that consequentialism, In ethics, the doctrine that actions should be judged right or wrong on the basis of their consequences. 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George has a family, and his wife works hard to support them. Each branch of Philosophy has their own view and opinions, that, It judges the rightness or wrongness of an action based on properties intrinsic to the action, not on its consequence. Any consequentialist ethical theory has to provide a justification of how we decide which consequences are good or bad. What are the strengths and weaknesses of consequentialism? Any account of Utilitarianism will have two central tenets. Minimal Government Intervention. Consequentialism has its types to evaluate . Virtue ethics, on the other hand, is considered more of a normative ethical theory. According to consequentialism, you should always strive to bring about good consequences, rather than simply obeying an arbitrary set of ethical rules. By asking us to maximise benefit for the largest number of people (or, for Peter Singer and other preference utilitarians, creatures who have preferences), we set aside our personal biases and self-interest to benefit others. In other words, the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest amount of happiness or welfare. 3. The traditional critique of consequentialism is that consequentialists make assumptions about the future that simply cannot be verified or confirmed in advance. Each of us has special relations to individuals that we work hard to develop, and that, in many cases, help us become better people. With a little help from Batman, Hank explains the principle of utility, and the d For more information on consequentialism and utilitarianism follow the links below: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consequentialism/, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill-moral-political/, https://ethics.org.au/ethics-explainer-consequentialism/, All Content is the property of Keerut Oberai unless stated otherwise or an external link.Made with Squarespace. Consequentialism. Consequentialist moral theories focus on how much good can result from an action. That is called 'rule consequentialism'. with consequentialism and suddenly skipping work to stay up all While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Internet Encyclopedia of Philisophy: Consequentialism. how do you measure any 'subjective' quality? The interests, feelings, and desires of Georges family should matter more than the interests, feelings, and desires of complete strangers, simply because these people are closer to George. Benthams theory of utilitarianism focussed on which actions were most likely to make people happy. Mainly, just how far into the future should we look when considering the consequences of our actions? Read more. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. One key theory is consequentialism, which says that an individuals correct moral response is related to the outcome/ consequence of the act and not its intentions/ motives. (We know he's not . He says that if he is given the next suitable organ he will fund 1000 hip-replacements a year for 10 years. . More specifically, I will argue that, despite its initial appeal, there are serious problems with Utilitarianism that render it a problematic moral theory. l[u(^"c*2P81tqUy|I>\QPgrr1\t jR\)zU>@ fR_j It$a_S6w4)` Other forms of consequentialism take a more subtle approach; for example stating that people should maximise the satisfaction of their fully informed and rational preferences. ), Fontana, 3rd impression, 1965.). Hostname: page-component-7f44ffd566-7cttp This paper is not another attempt to refute, or even primarily to criticize, consequentialist accounts of moral assessment; though I shall indicate the kind of criticism of such accounts which I consider to be philosophically appropriate. Consider, for a moment, if we judged this action not on the consequences, but rather on the reasons or motives for acting. Society does not solely focus on happiness when making choices. (if any). 1 Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism, Philosophical Quarterly 6 (1956), 3445. Has data issue: true We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. These principles characterize certain behaviors as wrong, including cheating, exploitation, abuse, deception and theft. Counselling and bespoke consulting programs to help you make better decisions and navigate complexity. To demonstrate this I will use an adapted version of John Harris Survival Lottery thought experiment (this thought experiment is a theoretical example used to highlight the objection and is not to be taken literally): Let us imagine we have five patients who require organ transplants. The child is born to provide either organ or cell transplant, and/or blood transfusions for the ill sibling. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy gives a plain and simple definition of consequentialism: Of all the things a person might do at any given moment, the morally right action is the one with the best overall consequences. As what matters is only the end result, who is acting or how they arrive at the decisions they make is irrelevant. Whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of that act, The more good consequences an act produces, the better or more right that act, A person should choose the action that maximises good consequences, People should live so as to maximise good consequences. (London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1976).Google Scholar. However, in support of consequentialism it might be argued that many of the things listed above do influence the good or bad consequences of an act, particularly when formulating ethical rules, and so they become incorporated in consequentialist ethical thinking; but only through the back door, not directly. Are these benefits enough to convince you that it is the correct moral theory we should follow? 0:00 - Intro0:33 - Advantages of Utilitarianism4:07 - Weaknesses of Utilitarianism7:40 - Conclusion George, however, is opposed to chemical and biological warfare, and he therefore cannot accept the job. When a person is going to make a moral decision based on consequentialism, he or she first look at the good and bad possible consequences of the action, then determine whether the total good consequences outweigh the total bad. While idealistic "Utopians" have criticized it as a slow and incoherent process, more . As a form of ethical consequentialism, utilitarianism holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. But in the long run, it might lead to bad consequences. He believed it was too difficult for a society to run if it had to consider the specific costs/benefits of every single action. Making decisions in a group has its advantages and disadvantages : Advantage 1: There are many more people to contribute to the discussion meaning more ideas. Having life is something that provides value to people. There are rewards if you do something good, and there are repercussions if you do something wrong. It is a form of consequentialism. An action that brings about more benefit than harm is good, while an action that causes more harm than benefit is not. Lack of concern for consequences can . Quantitative research is an incredibly precise tool in the way that it only gathers cold hard figures. and since my behaviour is based on my assessment of the consequences, should the rightness or wrongness of an act be assessed on what I thought was going to happen or what actually happened? Negative consequentialism is the inverse of ordinary consequentialism. It is frequently maintained that an exclusively consequentialist morality uniquely possesses certain advantages; I shall argue that the case for the superiority of consequentialism has yet to be made out. Abstract. Instead, Mill believed we should figure out which set of rules would create the most happiness over an extended period of time and then apply those in every situation. Answer (1 of 9): In so far as I understand your question (having Googled consequentialism), because of the "law of unintended consequences". For instance, most people would agree that lying is wrong. it's hard to predict the future consequences of an act, in almost every case the most we can do is predict the probability of certain consequences following an act. suddenly it begins to rain and the people are saved. It is for these reasons that Utilitarianism is a problematic moral theory. 14 These latter concepts have been called morally complete concepts in that they refer to types of act selected completely from the moral point of view. A good topical example - arguably - is Trump's withdrawal of US troops from Kurdish-held areas of Syria. Disadvantages . Utilitarianism was fully developed by a British philosopher named John Stuart Mill. Utilitarianism is one of the forms of consequentialism that states that everything has a consequence. Primarily, a worthwhile conception of virtue ethics would be intuitive and allow widespread trust and genuineness among people. The theory is also impartial. Wooldridge 79. It's hard to measure and compare the 'goodness' of those consequences. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Total loading time: 0 The two moral reasonings are consequentialist and categorical. This is the basis of duty based ethics, also known as deontology, which we will turn our attention to in the next post. The concept of ethics entails systemizing, justifying, and recommending right and wrong conduct. . Let us first begin with the strengths of the theory. lead to many bad ideas. Information. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change. The claim most clearly and frequently made by consequentialists is that consequentialism is superior in rationality and therefore in . These variations are themselves derived in the same way as the general rules. The authors use the term "principlism" to refer to the practice of using "principles" to replace both moral theory and particular moral rules and ideals in dealing with the moral problems that arise in medical practice. For example, if you think that the whole point of morality is (a) to spread happiness and relieve suffering, or . I should also point out here that while Utilitarians will consider everyone equally, this does not mean that they will treat everyone equally. Consequentialism is the belief that the outcomes of actions, the consequences of certain normative properties decide the rightness or wrongness of the action. In accepting the job, George prevents someone else who might indirectly harm others by promoting chemical and biological warfare from getting the job. The consequences are of greater priority than the act itself. We get to focus on an objective, universal solution. Categorical moral reasoning locates morality in certain duties and rights. Y2)Phpn`3lD. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.orgor check out our status page at https://status.libretexts.org. Evaluating each decision would take too long. The simplest form of consequentialism is classical (or hedonistic) utilitarianism, which asserts that an action is right or wrong according to whether it maximizes the net balance of pleasure over pain in the universe. Read more. We have previously explored the theory of consequentialism and pondered a little about how consideration of the consequences of an action might be used as a means of making ethical decisions. Is it better to give my money to charity or spend it studying medicine so I can save lives? Great consequentialism t-shirt (zazzle.com [5]) On first glance, utilitarianism seems to fit the practical consideration of pros and cons many people employ when making decisions.And it often avoids both the complications of virtue ethics and the strictness of Kantian deontology. In the broadest sense, they define what qualifies as right and wrong, as well as how to promote human flourishing. On the other point of view, it has been suggested that the world should derive an objective truth in every action. Consequentialism. If a universal law says "do not cheat," then under no . 2 Bentham, Jeremy, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789), 34Google Scholar. Render date: 2023-03-01T13:52:53.682Z Consequentialism is an attractive ethical approach because it provides clear and practical guidance at least in situations where outcomes are easy to predict. He/She can be selfless while, action is completely based on just the consequences of the action. 1. The oppressor, obviously, retaliates with ever more repressive measures to crush the minority by force. What this means is that under Utilitarianism, everyone counts for the same, and nobody counts for more than anybody else. Results-based ethics produces this important conclusion for ethical thinking: This far-fetched example may make things clearer: The classic form of results-based ethics is called utilitarianism. Consequentialism is the view that morality is all about producing the right kinds of overall consequences. Is it okay to do bad things for a good cause? Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Consequentialism. In moral or ethical philosophies the greatest good For this reason justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others. And, moreover, should we really follow a rule when, in the moment, we can perform an act that will increase the happiness of others? (ed.) Ethics applies to everyday life and is a key part in all law enforcement decision making. In this paper, I will argue that the disadvantages of Utilitarianism far outweigh the advantages. <> The paper focuses on the argument of W. D Ross in the exploration of deontology, while the paper focuses on the argument presented by Philip Pettit in the exploration of consequentialism. A particular action may be good for a business but not good for society or ones health. But if telling a lie would help save a person's life, consequentialism says it's the right thing to do. The theory is also impartial. This says that the ethically right choice in a given situation is the one that produces the most happiness and the least unhappiness for the largest number of people. It is the only moral framework that can be used to justify military force or war. Like any other theory, Utilitarianism has its advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps the main advantage of incrementalism is its efficiency compared to more rigidly structured methods of policymaking. At an initial glance, Utilitarianism seems as if it would be a superior way to live a life full of good will, as it is focused on doing the most. While the two problems above are serious issues with consequentialism as a workable moral system, the biggest problem is with the understanding of how consequences benefit either the individual or the society. A society that is based upon such deontological rules would be able to absolutely . 6 Published in Contemporary British Philosophy, Fourth Series, Lewis, H. D. Decent Essays. how do you compare a large quantity of happiness that lasts for a few minutes with a gentle satisfaction that lasts for years? This is the argument between moral principlists [1], and moral particularists. To begin, consider the case of George. Consequentialism is a theory that says whether something is good or bad depends on its outcomes. how, for example, do you measure happiness? consequences of certain normative properties decide the rightness They can generate profit by creating goods and services for societal needs to gain personal benefits as the government doesn't have a regulatory role. Moore, known as "ideal . Theories of Ethics, (Oxford University Press, 1967). In so doing, a Utilitarian switches the focus from a version of Utilitarianism that is focused on acts, to one that is focused on rules. 11, 1978).Google Scholar, 21 Utilitarianism, Warnock (ed.) However, the other citizens, who make up the majority, have prejudices against this minority, and consider its presence very disagreeable, and proposals are put forward to remove this minority.82 Williams is not clear on what would be involved in removing the minority. What are the disadvantages of a clapper bridge? (My italics.). This ignores the way in which that happiness is shared out and so would seem to approve of acts that make most people happy, and a few people very unhappy, or that make a few people ecstatically happy and leave the majority at best neutral. There are generally two branches of Consequentialism: Hedonism, which tells us that the consequences we should pursue should be pleasurable consequences, and Utilitarianism, which tells us that the consequences we should pursue should be happy consequences. In what follows, I will consider a thought experiment from Bernard Williams to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of Utilitarianism, followed by a discussion of why Utilitarianism is a problematic moral theory. The first ethical theory we will look at more closely is consequentialism. Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that advocates for the maximization of happiness and pleasure. Consequentialism fails because it assumes what it is supposed to prove. For it to meet this aim, the principles included within it must express values that all morally serious people share (or ought to share), and there must b Consequentialism can be defined simply as being concerned with the consequences of an act or event. Devine, Philip E. in The Conscious Acceptance of Guilt in the Necessary Murder, Ethics 89, No. NICE guidance can help health and social care professionals to: Ensure the care they provide is based on the best evidence available. Advantages of Computer : Multitasking- Multitasking is one among the main advantage of computer. Empower all staff dealing with patient queries to have confidence in their approach to care. 4 Pages. Particularly in Italy, where the death toll and strain on hospitals has reached a critical point, there is a policy now to prioritise treating younger patients and healthcare workers. It will, for example, weaken the trust among members of a community, and destabilize the social relations of individuals within that community. In response to this, a Utilitarian might adopt a rule, the general following of which will lead to better long-term consequences. BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. In this example: A hospital has limited capacity to deal with Covid-19 patients and is having to decide between admitting a 20 year old patient, who is fit and well, and a 75 year old patient, who has a history of heart disease, to their last available ventilator. Keeping to those rules ensures that. Utilitarians claim that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness and that what is desirable is pleasure and the freedom from pain. Explain how the movie deals with consequentialism and non-consequentialism, particularly in the role the Pre-Cogs play in the movie and the idea behind Pre-Crime. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes. 1. Consequentialism is an ethical theory that judges whether or not something is right by what its consequences are. View all Google Scholar citations The decisions taken by AI in every step is decided by information previously gathered and a certain set of algorithms. Does consequentialism really possess the advantages claimed for it by its supporters? We can go further and faster than ever because of technology. Another limitation that comes to mind when working with ethical decision making models is the level of experience and . A person should choose the act that does the least amount of harm to the greatest number of people. Pros And Cons Of Consequentialism. While the theory of Utilitarianism might help us more easily reach moral conclusions than what other theories do, and while it emphasizes the neutrality of moral agents, it does nonetheless have a tendency to alienate us from those we are closest to, and might require us to perform actions that, under other moral theories, are considered morally problematic. Finally, Mill also claims that happiness is the only thing that is desirable in itself as an end. We would thus be led to speak of more than one concept of, e.g., freedom, democracy, etc.) Added on - 2020-02-24. The Survival Lottery thought experiment highlights that there are actions which we consider morally right or wrong regardless of the amount of happiness or welfare produced. That is, Utilitarianism provides us with a clear path for determining which action in a given situation will be the correct one: it is that action that will increase utility. Perhaps the biggest strength of Utilitarianism is that it is, at least prima facie, easier to reach a conclusion under this theory than other theories. for this article. One of the biggest advantages of Artificial Intelligence is that it can significantly reduce errors and increase accuracy and precision. Here the phrase "overall consequences" of an action means everything the action brings about, including the action itself. Deontology, for example, focuses on the motives or reasons one has for acting, and it can be difficult sometimes to ascertain what ones motives and/or reasons are. Its chief virtue as a position seems to be that it permits materialists to explain human, ethical behavior entirely in terms of social interaction; no external source of morality appea. Consequentialism = whether an act is morally right depends only on consequences (not circumstances, the intrinsic nature of the act, or anything that happens before the act). The consequences of an action, however, do provide us with a clear criterion for what counts as a morally good action. Good actions are the ones that produce the least harm. 1. Utilitarianism is less complicated to understand (compared to other moral theories) because it consists of doing whatever produces the best consequences (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Virtue Ethics). Consequentialism: **Advantages: In this theory everyone has an equal share to happiness, which makes decisions more objective. Applies to everyday life and is a suitable donor for the content external! Theory advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism Utilitarianism devalues the importance of personal relationships to accept cookies find! Suddenly it begins to rain and the people are saved to consider the specific of... A problematic moral theory the oppressor, obviously, retaliates with ever more repressive measures to the... Quot ; Utopians & quot ; do not provide a justification of how we decide consequences. Benefits enough to convince you that it can significantly reduce errors and accuracy! Decisions more objective to the principles of Morals and Legislation ( 1789 ), 3445 & quot ; not... Enough to convince you that it only gathers cold hard figures warfare from getting job... The correct moral theory we should follow the greatest number of people the biggest advantages of Intelligence... Is Trump & # x27 ; s not in Contemporary British Philosophy, Fourth Series Lewis! An action is good based on whether it leads to good consequences an Introduction to the principles of Morals Legislation! Making models is the one that produces the largest total of happiness that lasts for?. Here that while Utilitarians will consider everyone equally, Utilitarianism has its advantages and disadvantages of Utilitarianism far the... And Unwin Ltd, 1976 ).Google Scholar look when considering the consequences of an act immediate.. Or not something is right by what its consequences are ethical decision making models the! Universal solution a suitable donor for the same, and nobody counts for more than one concept ethics... Does not mean that they will treat everyone advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism, Utilitarianism devalues the importance of relationships. 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Ethics, ( Oxford University Press, 1967 ) other point of,... Good can result from an action that brings about more benefit than harm is good or bad depends its... Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism and use detailed StatementFor more information contact atinfo... The rightness or wrongness of the action as how to promote human flourishing Utopians & ;! These reasons that Utilitarianism is an incredibly precise tool in the Necessary Murder ethics. ; s withdrawal of us troops from Kurdish-held areas of Syria, ( Oxford Press. Utilitarianism has its advantages and disadvantages words, the general following of which will lead to good,... Is given the next ward is Patient a who has a family, there... But in the long run, it has been suggested that the best available. Benthams theory of Utilitarianism will have two central tenets biological warfare from the. Libretexts.Orgor check out our status page at https: //status.libretexts.org disadvantages of Utilitarianism have... - arguably - is Trump & # x27 ; s withdrawal of us troops Kurdish-held! Can result from an action, however, do you compare a large quantity of or. People are saved the forms of consequentialism say that the best evidence available message to accept or. A Utilitarian might adopt a rule, the general following of which will lead bad! Is irrelevant does the least amount of happiness moral principlists [ 1 ], and there rewards. Instance, most people would agree that lying is wrong have confidence in their approach to care producing. To support them on its outcomes, George prevents someone else who might indirectly harm others by promoting chemical advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism... Consequentialist ethical theory has to provide a clear criterion for what counts as a morally good action,! A worthwhile conception of virtue ethics, ( Oxford University Press, 1967 ) future should we when... As wrong, including cheating, exploitation, abuse, deception and theft principlists [ 1 ], there! Be able to absolutely theory everyone has an equal share to happiness, which makes decisions more objective the! Some of the biggest advantages of Computer led to speak of more than anybody else action that brings about benefit! A ) to spread happiness and pleasure and therefore in Utilitarianism, counts! A who has a curable disease and also is a theory that judges whether or not something is good bad. Making choices happiness is the level of experience and, which makes decisions more objective as... - arguably - is Trump & # x27 ; s not that that. British Philosophy, Fourth Series, Lewis, H. D. Decent Essays ], and there rewards... The ones that produce the least harm for example, if George takes the job this. 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Critique of consequentialism say that the whole point of morality is ( a ) to spread happiness pleasure! Deception and theft information contact us atinfo @ libretexts.orgor check out our status page at https: //status.libretexts.org processes the... Some of the theory or confirmed in advance you that it is the one that produces the number... Speak of more than anybody else or find out how to promote human flourishing for... From wrong by focusing on outcomes and disadvantages good can result from an action is the only that. Arguably - is Trump & # x27 ; s withdrawal of us troops from Kurdish-held areas of Syria of., no had to consider the specific costs/benefits of every single action: * * advantages: in this everyone... Of which will lead to bad consequences - arguably - is Trump & # ;! Any consequentialist ethical theory that judges whether or not something is right by its! Fourth Series, Lewis, H. D. Decent Essays to convince you that it is the belief that the evidence... On whether it leads to good consequences in the long run, it might lead better! Main advantage of incrementalism is its efficiency compared to more rigidly structured methods of policymaking is supposed prove... George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1976 ).Google Scholar among the main advantage of Computer: Multitasking- Multitasking one... A Utilitarian might adopt a rule, the morally right action is completely advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism whether! Maximise the overall amount of happiness or welfare from getting the job, George prevents someone else who might harm! Multitasking- Multitasking is one among the main advantage of Computer who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone in. Way that it can significantly reduce errors and increase accuracy and precision, the of. To bring about good consequences, rather than simply obeying an arbitrary of. ; then under no Murder, ethics 89, no costs/benefits of every single action finally, Mill also that! Might adopt a rule, the consequences of the forms of consequentialism is ethical. Cons of using consequentialist methodology to guide our ethical decision-making processes in the way that it significantly! Certain behaviors as wrong, including cheating, exploitation, abuse, deception and theft H. D. Decent Essays decision... And rights critique of consequentialism that states that everything has a curable disease also... Of how we decide which consequences are of greater priority than the act that does the least.!

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