Consequentialism and the Principle of Dual Effect: An Analytical Approach in Normative Ethics

Abstract

This study critically examines consequentialism, aiming to clarify its concept, implications, and major strands, as one of the most controversial theories in moral philosophy. Consequentialism maintains that the moral value of an action is determined primarily by its consequences and effects, whereby an action is judged good or bad according to its outcomes. In contrast, the study examines non-consequentialist approaches, which do not regard consequences as the decisive criterion of moral judgment, but also emphasize the importance of motives, principles, and rules guiding moral action. Particular attention is given to the Principle of Double Effect, which distinguishes between intended and unintended consequences and permits certain actions that may produce unintended negative effects under specific moral conditions. The study concludes that the predominance of a positive effect over a negative one may morally justify an action producing both intended and unintended effects, provided that the principle of proportionality is satisfied as an ethical criterion for objectively balancing actions and their consequences and distinguishing between right and wrong conduct.