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Consequentialism
Understand Consequentialism — meaning, plain-language explanation, and related glossary terms.
In moral philosophy, consequentialism is a class of normative, teleological ethical theories that holds that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for judgement about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint…
Consequentialism in U.S. law
In moral philosophy, consequentialism is a class of normative, teleological ethical theories that holds that the consequences of one's conduct are the ultimate basis for judgement about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right act is one that will produce a good outcome. Consequentialism, along with eudaimonism, falls under the broader category of teleological ethics, a group of views which claim that the moral value of any act consists in its tendency to produce things of intrinsic value. Consequentialists hold in general that an act is right if and only if the act will produce, will probably produce, or is intended to produce, a greater balance of good over evil than any available alternative. Different consequentialist theories differ in how they define moral goods, with chief candidates including pleasure, the absence of pain, the satisfaction of one's preferences, and broader notions of the "general good".
The practical impact of Consequentialism
Consequentialism appears in U.S. legal practice
across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can
determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations.
For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often
carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to
costly missteps.
Consequentialism — procedural details
In practice, Consequentialism is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an
issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next.
The definition shown above is sourced from
Wikipedia ,
which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice.
Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the
precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for
your specific case.
