konsekventzorientierung

Konsekventzorientierung, often translated as consequence orientation, is a principle in ethical decision-making. It posits that the moral rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its outcomes or consequences. This contrasts with deontological ethics, which emphasizes duties and rules, and virtue ethics, which focuses on character.

In practice, konsekventzorientierung involves an assessment of potential results before acting. A decision-maker would consider the foreseeable benefits and harms to all relevant parties. The action that is expected to produce the greatest good or the least harm is typically deemed the morally preferable one. This approach is the foundation of utilitarianism, a prominent ethical theory.

Challenges in applying konsekventzorientierung include the difficulty in accurately predicting all consequences, especially long-term ones. Furthermore, different individuals or groups may weigh consequences differently, leading to disagreements about the "best" outcome. There is also the question of whether certain actions are inherently wrong, regardless of their consequences, a point often raised by critics of purely consequentialist frameworks. Despite these challenges, konsekventzorientierung remains a significant framework for analyzing and justifying actions in various fields, including public policy, business, and personal morality.