What is Consequentialism? | Gentleman Thinker

Let’s explain one of the most famous types of philosophical ethical theory, and how it helps us find what morality consists in.

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Assets:

[elliottmcollins]

As an American, gotta be honest, this sounds the same as your usual accent.

[averytaylor]

Congratulations on 50, 000 subscribers!

[unvergebeneid]

I think it's funny that we seem to have this urge to develop the one true guiding principle of ethics when such a simple thing as consequentialism vs. deontology makes it clear that no one principle can ever give us a concept of morality that's even remotely close to what we feel is adequate.

"He tried to shoot me in the head but missed? Oh well, never mind then, let's have a coffee." I don't think so.

"Who cares if the crane operator dropped that block of concrete on her colleague by accident or intentionally? It's life in prison, buddy!" Nah, doesn't sit right.

[ChristianGonzalezCapizzi]

I'd love to see a video on some of those theories that are a mix of the three. I believe Daniel Parfit wrote on this in "On What Matters"

[AlanKey]

I was discussing this with my wife just this morning.

When we have our baby, we've decided not to share his day to day activities/existence on social media i.e. uploading endless photos of him, posting daily updates about him etc.

My reasons are to respect the child's privacy. I don't like the thought that, in 10 years time, our child's life might've been made semi-public on the internet without his consent. My wife is fully on board with this policy but not out of any moral standpoint per se. She just doesn't use Facebook, Instagram or Twitter very often.

This got me thinking - is my active decision to refrain from sharing details of someone elses life on social media as "Good" as my wife's natural inclination to just not really broadcast with social media in the first place?

The consequences are the same. It's just that I'll have to restrain myself and my wife won't. There is, of course, the separate issue of "Is it ok for parents to post photos of their small children on social media?"

[FurryTailor]

Would love a revisit on this and the practicalities it produces, hedonistic utilitarianism / effective altruism / veganism etc

[abhishalsharma]

Is Consequentialism and Teleology the same?

[rowenkariya]

You earlier mentioned that you were going to do a video about Sam Harris and consequentialism, was it this video?

[dford]

As a VE sympathetic/enthusiastic person myself I'd love to see one of these on VE!

Do you have any readings you'd recommend for better understanding VE? Any size is fine.

Thanks. :)

[whitegarrett]

As I very much enjoy your content and know you to be the most prudent and effective person to ask this of, would you please do me the favor of listing a book or two that would embody the 'other side' of the arguments represented in The Communist Manifesto? Thanks so much (: