more on this theme     |     more from this text

Single Idea 6246

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism ]

Full Idea

No good effect, which I did not actually foresee and intend, makes my action morally good.

Gist of Idea

My action is not made good by a good effect, if I did not foresee and intend it

Source

Francis Hutcheson (Treatise 2: Virtue or Moral Good [1725], §III.XII)

Book Ref

'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.288

A Reaction

This is one of the parents of utilitarianism repudiating pure consequentialism. Bentham sharply divided the action (which is consequentialist) from the person (who has useful intentions, but is not particulary important); this division is misleading.

The 20 ideas from Francis Hutcheson

6238 We approve of actions by a superior moral sense [Hutcheson]
6239 We dislike a traitor, even if they give us great benefit [Hutcheson]
6240 The moral sense is not an innate idea, but an ability to approve or disapprove in a disinterested way [Hutcheson]
6241 Contempt of danger is just madness if it is not in some worthy cause [Hutcheson]
6242 We cannot choose our moral feelings, otherwise bribery could affect them [Hutcheson]
6243 As death approaches, why do we still care about family, friends or country? [Hutcheson]
6244 Human nature seems incapable of universal malice, except what results from self-love [Hutcheson]
6245 That action is best, which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest number [Hutcheson]
6246 My action is not made good by a good effect, if I did not foresee and intend it [Hutcheson]
6247 Everyone feels uneasy when seeing others in pain, unless the others are evil [Hutcheson]
6248 Reason is too slow and doubtful to guide all actions, which need external and moral senses [Hutcheson]
6249 If goodness is constituted by God's will, it is a tautology to say God's will is good [Hutcheson]
6250 We say God is good if we think everything he does aims at the happiness of his creatures [Hutcheson]
6251 The loss of perfect rights causes misery, but the loss of imperfect rights reduces social good [Hutcheson]
6252 Happiness is a pleasant sensation, or continued state of such sensations [Hutcheson]
6253 Reason is our power of finding out true propositions [Hutcheson]
6254 We are asked to follow God's ends because he is our benefactor, but why must we do that? [Hutcheson]
6255 Why may God not have a superior moral sense very similar to ours? [Hutcheson]
6257 You can't form moral rules without an end, which needs feelings and a moral sense [Hutcheson]
6256 Can't the moral sense make mistakes, as the other senses do? [Hutcheson]