Rule Consequentialism Essay

Consequentialism is an approach to ethics that argues about the morality of an action is depending on the action's outcome or consequence. Therefore, a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome or result, and the consequences of an action or rule generally outweigh all other considerations. The term "consequentialism" was coined by Elizabeth Anscombe in her 1958 essay "Modern Moral Philosophy", as a pejorative description of what she saw as the central error of certain moral theories. There are also different types of Consequentialism it includes Utilitarianism, which holds that an action is right if it leads to the most happiness for the greatest number of people ("happiness" here is defined as the maximization of pleasure and the minimization of pain). Hedonism, which is the philosophy that pleasure is the most important pursuit of mankind, and that individuals should strive to
Thus, individuals have a moral obligation to help, serve or benefit others, if necessary at the sacrifice of self-interest. Rule Consequentialism, which is a theory (sometimes seen as an attempt to reconcile Consequentialism and Deontology), that moral behaviour involves following certain rules, but that those rules should be chosen based on the consequences that the selection of those rules have. Some theorists holds that a certain set of minimal rules are necessary to ensure appropriate actions, while some hold that the rules are not absolute and may be violated if strict adherence to the rule would lead to much more undesirable consequences. Negative Consequentialism, which focuses on minimizing bad consequences rather than promoting good consequences. This may actually require active intervention (to prevent harm from being done), or may only require passive avoidance of bad