Center for Ethical Deliberation

Stages of the Consequentialist Framework

This framework says to look at the results of the actions you are considering.
It encourages us to see the world as a series of causes and effects that we have the ability to predict and influence.
It also encourages us to think broadly – we must consider all possible courses of action, and consider the consequences of each action for everyone who might be affected.

To decide what is a “good” or “bad” action, you must decide upon a standard to evaluate the consequences of each. Note that the specific Consequentialist perspectives on this website can help you determine which standard to use.
It is also a good idea to discuss your evaluation of consequences with other people, to make sure you’re not biasing the decision in your favor.
The right action is the one that produces the best consequences – that is, the consequences that are evaluated most highly by your standard.

The ultimate motivation is that you are doing an action which you have judged to produce the best consequences.
Since this framework tells us to consider the consequences for everyone affected, you can rest assured that your interests count just as much as anyone else’s.
Also, your decision should be fairly easy to explain and justify, because consequentialism focuses on results that all people can understand (it doesn’t force you to follow rules just because some authority figure said so).