lOMoARcPSD|3013804
In your own words, describe the primary difference between consequentialist and
non- consequentialist approaches to ethics.
Choose one of the major theories associated with consequentialism (Act Utilitarianism,
Rule Utilitarianism) : what objections might be made to this theory?
Choose one of the major theories associated with non-consequentialism (Kantian, Social
Contract, Virtue Ethics): what objections might be made to this theory?
The main difference regarding consequentialist and non-consequentialist approach to ethics is
the intention or the outcome of an action is paramount. For instant, in consequentialism an action
can be considered right or wrong based on the result on that action. While on the contrary non-
consequentialism does not look at the result of the action instead one would reflect on the action
itself. Asking yourself is the action right or wrong? Is it good or bad? Consequentialist theory
suggests that the approach to ethics assesses the behavior by looking strictly at the result of the
action taken. To put it simply, morally fitting behavior is one that results in the best outcome.
Utilitarianism mostly focuses on the action and if it morally right or wrong depending on the
outcome. An objection made against the theory of utilitarianism is that it ignores the human right
and central point is on the majority. According to the textbook (Pence, 2017) states that
utilitarianism can be an issue because if there’s a life of one is sacrificed for the majority. For
instance, at a point in time during the COVID-19 pandemic the hospitals were running out of
beds for patients that had COVID-19. The utilitarian approach would be to only treat the patient
who will be able to survive the virus and would be more beneficial. The theory included in non-
consequentialism is Kantian, referring to creating a universal measure, that oneself and everyone
else must abide by no matter the results of it. My objection to this theory is that overall selling
drugs is considered wrong and unethical there is certain conditions of a person is an act for the
greater good because although the act itself is wrong but to the people doing the act it isn’t
because they’re preventing their family from falling into poverty.
Pence. (2021). Medical Ethics Accounts of Groundbreaking Cases (9th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Kant’s Moral Philosophy. (2004). Https://Plato.Stanford.Edu/.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/
