Premium
Consequentialism and Commitment
Author(s) -
Norcross Alastair
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
pacific philosophical quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1468-0114
pISSN - 0279-0750
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0114.00045
Subject(s) - consequentialism , utilitarianism , affection , deception , epistemology , natural (archaeology) , social psychology , psychology , deontological ethics , philosophy , archaeology , history
It is sometimes claimed that a consequentialist theory such as utilitarianism has problems accommodating the importance of personal commitments to other people. However, by emphasizing the distinction between criteria of rightness and decision procedures, a consequentialist can allow for non‐consequentialist decision procedures, such as acting directly on the promptings of natural affection. Furthermore, such non‐consequentialist motivational structures can co‐exist happily with a commitment to consequentialism. It is possible to be a self‐reflective consequentialist who has genuine commitments to individuals and to moral principles, without engaging in self‐deception.