Single Idea 20881

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 5. Action Dilemmas / c. Omissions]

Full Idea

Consequentialists, unlike deontologists, are unlikely to think that the act/omission distinction is fundamentally important.

Gist of Idea

The act/omission distinction is important for duties, but less so for consequences

Source

Hugh LaFollette (Introductions in 'Ethics in Practice' [2002], p.021)

Book Reference

'Ethics in Practice (2nd Ed)', ed/tr. LaFollette,Hugh [Blackwell 2002], p.21


A Reaction

Not sure where virtue theory fits in here. Virtues tend to be applied more locally, where duty tends to be global. All moral theories must acknowledge that failure to act may be either a good or a bad thing, depending on circumstances