Consequentialist and Non-consequentialist theory with the perspective of ethics

1. BUSINESS ETHICS
Consequentialist &
Non consequentialist
Theories of Ethics

2. Consequentialist Theory:
Consequence_ Something that is
happens as a result of particular
action
Consequentialism_ Result based
ethical theory that judge whether or not
something is right by what its
consequences are.
For instance, most people would
agree that lying is wrong. But if telling a
lie would help save a person’s life,
consequentialism says it’s the right
thing to do.

3. Cont…
Consequences
or outcomes
Good
Morally
Right
Bad
Morally
wrong
Act
Ignore rules, duties, right
and justice

4. Cont…….
 Consequentialism is an attractive ethical
approach because it provides clear and
practical guidance – at least in situations
where outcomes are easy to predict.
 Emphasize on pleasure and avoid pain.
 What is morally right or wrong depend on
outcomes. Goodness or wrongness of any act
is only determine by its result.
 The more benefits are produced by act, the
more good or right the act will be.

5. Act & Rule Consequentialism
 Act Consequentialism_ A particular act is
morally right if it produced more benefits then
alternative actions.
 Rule Consequentialism__ holds that the
rightness of an act depends not on the
goodness of its consequences
 Such as “Don’t harm others,” “Don’t steal,”
“Keep one’s promises,” “Tell the truth,” etc.
 Its general acceptance that these rule usually
produce good consequences

6. Examples of Consequentialism
 Hedonism_ Maximize the pleasure and
happiness and minimize the pain and
unpleasant.
 Hedonism can be two types.
 Utilitarianism_ Social Hedonism
 “Greatest good for greatest number”
 Ethical Egoism_ associated with self-interest
 It focus on greatest good rather then greatest
number.
 Believe that pleasure play a central role in life

7. Cont…
 Pleasure can be intellectual, drug, eating
drinking, reading a book etc.
 Prefer actions which promote happiness and
pleasure and oppose pain and unhappiness
 E.g, Is it right to let one patient die in order to
harvest his organs and perhaps save lives of
five persons?
 a cigarette smoker acts on his desire to
smoke

8. Cont….
 E.g a driver having five passengers in a vehicle is
speeding just in front of a trailer on the expressway. On
the same side of the road, and immediately in front of the
driver, a little boy crosses the road. The driver could
continue forward and kill the little boy, or could apply the
brake, and kill everybody including himself as there is the
possibility of being hit by the trailer from behind. So hitting
boy is better then braking and killing five passenger.
 Cigarette industries.
 Child labor can moral if its consequences are more
beneficial as they can provide food and support to their
families. And if we denied child labor, they will still
deprived of education due to poverty and may involve in a
crime.

9. Cont…
 Zombie apocalypse breaks out, and you're
alone in the only safe house, but there are
other people outside. You could keep the
door shut, which could be argued
as moral in ethical egoism because you are
reducing risk to yourself.
 Egotists often talk about themselves a lot, not
listening to others
 Lying to protect oneself, even if it harm
others.
 False reporting to save job

10. Non Consequentialist theory:
 A non-
consequentialist
theory of value
judges the rightness
or wrongness of an
action based on
properties intrinsic
to the action, not on
its consequences.

11. Cont…
Rules, Rights
and Justice
Violate
Morally
wrong
Obey
Morally
right
Act

12. Cont…
 Morality or immorality of act is judged by
rules, natural laws, obligations, duties, rights
and justice not on consequences.
 Act or decision should be matter of principle.
 We need to follow rules, even if it have bad
consequences.
 It include Justice and Right theories.
 E.g we ought to stop at a red light, even if no
cars are coming and we could get to
destination that much sooner.

13. Cont…
 We ought not to steel neighbor’s property,
even if they will never miss it and we will gain
many benefits from it.
 In business context, decision making should
according to laws and rules.