consequentialism

  1. Noun.  (ethics) The ethical study of morals, duties and rights with an approach that focuses consequences of a particular action.
  2. Noun.  (ethics) The belief that consequences form the basis for any valid moral judgment about an action. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.