consequentialism

American  

[kon-si-kwen-shuh-liz-uhm] / ˌkɒn sɪˈkwɛn ʃəˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. the theory that human actions derive their moral worth solely from their outcomes or consequences.

2. the theory that ethical decisions should be made on the basis of the expected outcome or consequences of the action.

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consequentialism British  

/ ˌkɒnsɪˈkwɛnʃəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. ethics the doctrine that an action is right or wrong according as its consequences are good or bad

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Other Word Forms

• consequentialist noun

Example Sentences

Almost all versions of the family of moral theories known as consequentialism hold that pleasure is morally good and pain and suffering are morally bad.

From New York Times

In Slate Plus: Barry talks to Sarah Lustbader, senior contributor to the Appeal and senior legal counsel for the Justice Collaborative, about the comparative significance of mens rea versus moral luck in prosecution and why the deontology/consequentialism debate in criminal justice policy is so difficult.

From Slate

Where “consequentialism” is concerned with the effects of an action, virtue ethics is concerned with what sort of person you are.

From New York Times

Human decisions may be guided by a set of explicit rules, or by associations simply based on consequentialism, or by a combination.

From Scientific American

In their pursuit of survival, men and women employ Machiavellian game theory and adopt a bleak consequentialism.

From The New Yorker