Single Idea 22466

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 5. Action Dilemmas / b. Double Effect]

Full Idea

We have an intuition that there is a moral distinction between what we aim at and what we foresee as a result of what we do.

Gist of Idea

We see a moral distinction between our aims and their foreseen consequences

Source

Philippa Foot (Morality, Action, and Outcome [1985], p.88)

Book Reference

Foot,Philippa: 'Moral Dilemmas' [OUP 2002], p.88


A Reaction

Cf. Idea 22465. This seems to be the classic doctrine of double effect. It is hard to defend the claim that we are only responsible for what we aim at. A wide assessment of consequences is a moral duty. Well-meaning fools are bad.

Related Idea

Idea 22465 We see a moral distinction between doing and allowing to happen [Foot]