BharatNotes Consequentialism
An ethical theory holding that the morality of an action is determined solely by its outcomes — the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number is morally right.
Context & Background
Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham, 1789; John Stuart Mill, 1863) is the most influential form; classical utilitarianism measures pleasure vs pain; preference utilitarianism measures satisfaction of preferences.
UPSC Exam Relevance
GS4 application — policy decisions (e.g., dam displacement for power generation), triage decisions, public health trade-offs; Mill's qualitative vs Bentham's quantitative distinction; criticism: ignores rights and justice.
