Explain the concept of consequentialism and provide an example of its application in a moral dilemma.

Explain the concept of consequentialism and provide an example of its application in a moral dilemma.

Consequentialism is an ethical theory that focuses on the consequences or outcomes of an action as the primary determinant of its moral value. According to consequentialism, an action is morally right if it produces the best overall consequences or maximizes the overall amount of happiness or well-being.

An example of consequentialism in a moral dilemma could be the trolley problem. In this scenario, a runaway trolley is heading towards five people tied to the tracks. You have the option to divert the trolley onto another track where only one person is tied. From a consequentialist perspective, the morally right action would be to divert the trolley, sacrificing the one person to save the five. This decision is based on the belief that the overall consequence of saving more lives outweighs the harm caused to the one individual.