"The Inconsistency of the Consequentialist"

"The Inconsistency of the Consequentialist" refers to a problem where straightforwardly aiming to maximize good outcomes can lead to conflicting or morally questionable decisions. For example, a consequentialist might justify harming an individual if it results in a greater benefit for many. However, this can conflict with moral intuitions about fairness or individual rights, revealing an inconsistency: the theory's focus on outcomes sometimes clashes with other moral principles. This highlights potential difficulties in applying pure consequentialism consistently across different situations, raising questions about whether solely outcome-based ethics can fully capture our moral commitments.