Acts and Consequences: An Analysis of Modern Act-Consequentialism

Abstract

In this thesis I look at the modern state of Act-Consequentialism and how it can defend against five of the more prominent objections found in recent literature on the topic. The five objections are as follows: AC’s neglect of special personal relationships, its overdemandingness, its inability to handle expectation effects, its incompatibility with the claims of justice, and its suppression of our moral integrity. Although each of these objections differ significantly from one another, and this leads to separate treatment of each by chapter, all the objections deal on some level with the “derivativeness” of Act-Consequentialist moral thought when analyzing questions of a seemingly intrinsic quality, such as special personal relations or the dictates of justice. The approach taken towards the objections is broadly similar. By carefully considering the nature of the well-being that is promoted under AC, and how to most efficiently and organically promote it, the most severe aspects of the objections are softened. In working through the objections it is hoped that a more plausible form of Act-Consequentialism, with a stress on organic and efficient well-being promotion, will emerge.