WHAT IS CONSEQUENTIALIST APPROACH?

The consequentialist approach is a big idea in ethics, focusing on the outcomes of our
actions to determine if they're right or wrong. Here's a breakdown to help you understand it
better:

CORE PRINCIPLE

● The morality of an action is based entirely on its consequences.

● The right action is the one that brings about the best overall outcome.

HOW IT WORKS?

● Identify all possible actions: Consider all the options you have in a situation.
● Predict the consequences: Imagine the potential outcomes of each action. This
includes both good and bad consequences.
● Weigh the consequences: Evaluate the outcomes. Some consequentialist theories
focus on maximizing happiness or minimizing suffering, while others might prioritize
factors like liberty or fairness.
● Choose the best option: The action that leads to the most desirable outcome,
according to your chosen criteria, is the ethical choice.

Criticisms of Consequentialism:

● Difficult to predict consequences: It can be hard to know for sure what the
outcomes of our actions will be.
● Justifying bad actions: If the ends justify the means, could bad actions be okay if
they lead to a good outcome?
● Minority rights: Focusing only on total well-being could neglect the rights of
individuals or minorities.

Considering the Consequentialist Approach:

Consequentialism offers a framework for making ethical decisions by urging us to consider

the potential consequences of our actions. However, it's important to be aware of its
limitations and the challenges of accurately predicting and weighing outcomes.

SCENARIO:
They are pharmacists who develop drugs to treat the spreading disease but are unsure of
the long-term effects.They decided to conduct human trials to determine if there were long-
term effects. But they will do it outside the community that is not affected by the disease.

In the consequentialist approach who will benefit more? The one outside that is not affected
by the disease, or the community that is affected by the disease?

CONSEQUENTIAL APPROACH VIEWPOINT

From a consequentialist perspective, the community affected by the disease stands to

benefit more from the human trials in this scenario.

WHY?

Here's a breakdown:

Benefits and Risks

Community with the Disease:

● Benefits: A potential cure or treatment for the spreading disease. This could
significantly improve their health and well-being.
● Risks: Exposure to a drug with unknown long-term effects. However, the potential
benefit of stopping the disease might outweigh this risk.

Community Not Affected:

● Benefits: Contribute to medical research that could benefit others in the future.
● Risks: Being exposed to a potentially risky drug when they are perfectly healthy.

Weighing the Outcomes:

● Severity: The disease is actively spreading and causing harm to the affected
community. The potential consequences for them are more immediate and severe.
● Number of People Affected: The human trials on healthy individuals would likely
involve a smaller group compared to the entire affected community. Minimizing the
number of people exposed to unknown risks is important.
● Alternatives: There might be ways to involve the affected community ethically, such
as voluntary trials with informed consent.
Maximizing Good Outcomes: (EXPLAIN)

A consequentialist approach emphasizes achieving the best outcome for the greatest
number of people. In this case, prioritizing the affected community aligns with that principle.
They have a greater need for the potential benefits of the drug, and the risks can be
mitigated through informed consent and ethical trial design.

Challenges and Considerations:

● Predicting Consequences: It's impossible to know for sure what the long-term effects
of the drug will be. However, the urgency of the situation for the affected community
might justify taking a calculated risk.
● Informed Consent: If the trials involve healthy individuals from outside the affected
community, strict informed consent procedures are crucial. They must be fully aware
of the potential risks and benefits before participating.

Conclusion:

By focusing on minimizing suffering and maximizing well-being, a consequentialist approach

suggests prioritizing the affected community in this scenario. Their need is more urgent, and
the potential benefits outweigh the risks, especially if conducted ethically.