The ethical theory that judges the rightness or wrongness of actions solely by their consequences or outcomes. An action is morally right if it produces the best overall results, regardless of the action itself or the agent's intentions.
From Latin 'consequentia' (that which follows). The term was coined by philosopher G.E.M. Anscombe in 1958, though the underlying idea traces back to ancient philosophers and was developed systematically by utilitarians like Bentham and Mill in the 18th-19th centuries.
This theory suggests that lying could be not just permissible but morally required if it saves lives — the ends really do justify the means! It's intuitive in some ways (outcomes matter) but leads to counterintuitive conclusions, like potentially justifying punishing innocent people if it prevents greater harm.
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