The Right-Based Criticism of the Doctrine of Double Effect

International Journal of Applied Philosophy 34 (2):215-233 (2020)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

If people have stringent moral rights, then the doctrine of double effect is false or unimportant, at least when it comes to making acts permissible or wrong. There are strong and weak versions of the doctrine of double effect. The strong version asserts that an act is morally right if and only if the agent does not intentionally infringe a moral norm and the act brings about a desirable result (perhaps the best state of affairs available to the agent or a promotion of the common good). The weak version asserts that, other things being equal, it is deontically worse to intentionally infringe a norm than to foreseeably do so. A person’s intention or mere foresight might still be relevant to his or her blameworthiness or virtue, but this is a separate issue.

Author Profiles

Stephen Kershnar
Fredonia State University
Robert M. Kelly
Bakersfield College

Analytics

Added to PP
2021-04-01

Downloads
794 (#16,394)

6 months
295 (#6,214)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?