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Single Idea 4657
[filed under theme 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 5. Action Dilemmas / b. Double Effect
]
Full Idea
The doctrine of double effect says (crudely) it is wrong to intentionally do a bad act for its good consequences, but it may be permissible to do a good act despite its foreseeable bad consequences. (..Shoot an innocent man to avoid his agonising death?)
Gist of Idea
Double Effect: no bad acts with good consequences, but possibly good acts despite bad consequences
Source
Jonathan Glover (Causing Death and Saving Lives [1977], §6)
Book Ref
Glover,Jonathan: 'Causing Death and Saving Lives' [Penguin 1982], p.86
A Reaction
Glover rejects this principle, because he is a utilitarian. The principle implies a doubtful sharp distinction between an act and its consequences. If you foresee bad consequences, why do you go ahead and do it? I doubt if there are purely good acts.
The
14 ideas
with the same theme
[assessing effects against side effects of an act]:
22384
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A 'double effect' is a foreseen but not desired side-effect, which may be forgivable
[Foot]
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22385
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The doctrine of double effect can excuse an outcome because it wasn't directly intended
[Foot]
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22386
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Double effect says foreseeing you will kill someone is not the same as intending it
[Foot]
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22387
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Without double effect, bad men can make us do evil by threatening something worse
[Foot]
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22388
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Double effect seems to rely on a distinction between what we do and what we allow
[Foot]
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22466
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We see a moral distinction between our aims and their foreseen consequences
[Foot]
|
22465
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We see a moral distinction between doing and allowing to happen
[Foot]
|
22467
|
Acts and omissions only matter if they concern doing something versus allowing it
[Foot]
|
23578
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Double Effect needs a double intention - to achieve the good, and minimise the evil
[Walzer]
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4657
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Double Effect: no bad acts with good consequences, but possibly good acts despite bad consequences
[Glover]
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6896
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Double effect is the distinction between what is foreseen and what is intended
[Mautner]
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6897
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Double effect acts need goodness, unintended evil, good not caused by evil, and outweighing
[Mautner]
|
7293
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It is legitimate to do harm if it is the unintended side-effect of an effort to achieve a good
[Grayling]
|
20068
|
Describing a death as a side-effect rather than a goal may just be good public relations
[Stout,R]
|