Philosophy Consequentialism Questions Long
In consequentialist ethics, moral dilemmas arise when an individual is faced with a situation where they have to make a decision that results in conflicting consequences. Consequentialism is a moral theory that judges the morality of an action based on its consequences. According to consequentialism, the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the overall outcome it produces.
Moral dilemmas occur when different actions lead to conflicting consequences, making it difficult to determine the morally right course of action. In such situations, consequentialists face a challenge in deciding which action to choose, as each option may have both positive and negative consequences.
One example of a moral dilemma in consequentialist ethics is the famous "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. The dilemma arises when you have to decide whether to take action and divert the trolley, causing the death of one person but saving five, or to do nothing and allow the trolley to continue its course, resulting in the death of five people.
Consequentialists would evaluate the moral dilemma by considering the consequences of each action. They would weigh the value of human life and the number of lives at stake. In this case, the consequentialist might argue that saving five lives outweighs the sacrifice of one life, and therefore, diverting the trolley is the morally right action.
However, moral dilemmas in consequentialist ethics are not always as straightforward as the trolley problem. Often, the consequences of different actions are not easily quantifiable or predictable. This can lead to uncertainty and difficulty in determining the morally right course of action.
For instance, consider a situation where a doctor has to decide whether to perform a risky surgery on a patient. The surgery could potentially save the patient's life, but it also carries a significant risk of complications or even death. In this case, the consequentialist would have to weigh the potential positive outcome of saving a life against the potential negative consequences of the surgery.
Moral dilemmas in consequentialist ethics highlight the complexity of decision-making based on consequences. They challenge individuals to carefully consider the potential outcomes of their actions and make difficult choices when faced with conflicting consequences. It is important to note that different consequentialists may reach different conclusions when faced with the same moral dilemma, as their evaluations of consequences may vary based on their individual values and beliefs.
In conclusion, moral dilemmas in consequentialist ethics occur when individuals are confronted with conflicting consequences and have to make a decision. These dilemmas challenge consequentialists to evaluate the potential outcomes of different actions and determine the morally right course of action based on the overall consequences. However, the complexity and uncertainty of consequences can make it difficult to resolve moral dilemmas in a definitive manner.