consequencehas

Consequencehas is a term used in ethics and decision theory to describe the relationship between an agent's action and the outcomes it brings about. The word blends consequence and has to emphasize that actions are understood by the concrete outcomes they possess or generate. In discussions of accountability, the consequencehas of an action are the outcomes that can be causally linked to the action under a given model of the world.

Conceptually, consequencehas refers to the set of outcomes that can be attributed to an action when tracing the chain of events from the agent's choice onward. This requires a chosen causal model, a time frame, and a scope of attribution. The emphasis is on the agent's control over the resulting consequences, rather than mere association or correlation.

Applications include ethical evaluation, legal responsibility, and risk assessment. By focusing on consequencehas, analysts aim to distinguish between outcomes properly attributable to the agent and those affected by external factors. This approach supports responsibility judgments in cases of negligence, precaution, and the assessment of moral luck.

Critics argue that consequencehas risks oversimplifying moral assessment by underweighting intentions and context. Defining how far causation extends, and which remote effects count, can be contentious. Some suggest combining consequencehas with intentionality or virtue-based considerations for a fuller account.

See also: consequentialism, moral responsibility, causal attribution, moral luck.