What Is Consequentialism Permissible

Consequentialism is such a theory in which “An action is permissible if an only if it has the best consequences.” Consequentialism states a connection between permissibility and value: producing the best consequences is what makes an action permissible. So, according to consequentialism, rightness depends on goodness. Suppose there is a situation in which one could perform only one of three alternatives action: X, Y, and Z. If performing either X or Y results will be equally good but that performing Z will have worse results. Then consequentialism entails that it is permissible to perform X, permissible to perform Y, but not permissible to perform Z. Another way to state the consequentialism theory, “An action is permissible if an only if it
maximizes the goodness.” In order for an action to maximize goodness, to have the best consequences, the following must be true: there is no other action in the situation that would have better consequences, no action that would have better consequences, no action that produce more goodness. Consequentialism is also compatible with there being a permissible or even required action in cases where the results will be had no matter what one does. Consequentialism, like all moral theories, is a theory about what makes an action permissible. It is not a theory about how to decide what to do. It is not a decision procedure. Consequentialism tells you whether or not you have acted correctly, not whether you have deliberately correct. Consequentialism has a number of the consideration counting in its favor: Impartiality, Plausibility, Determinateness, and Context-Dependence. Some of the objection to consequentialism: It is too demanding, consequentialism fails to cohere with our moral judgments, and consequentialism fails to respect persons.