(Almost) every moral theory can be represented by a utility function

lukeprog

This was demonstrated, in a certain limited way, in Peterson (2009). See also Lowry & Peterson (2011).

The Peterson result provides an "asymmetry argument" in favor of consequentialism:

Consequentialists can account for phenomena that are usually thought of in nonconsequentialist terms, such as rights, duties, and virtues, whereas the opposite is false of nonconsequentialist theories. Rights, duty or virtue-based theories cannot account for the fundamental moral importance of consequences. Because of this asymmetry, it seems it would be preferable to become a consequentialist – indeed, it would be virtually impossible not to be a consequentialist.

Another argument in favor of consequentialism has to do with the causes of different types of moral judgments: see Are Deontological Moral Judgments Rationalizations?

Update: see Carl's criticism.

This was demonstrated, in a certain limited way, in Peterson (2009). See also Lowry & Peterson (2011).

The Peterson result provides an "asymmetry argument" in favor of consequentialism:

Consequentialists can account for phenomena that are usually thought of in nonconsequentialist terms, such as rights, duties, and virtues, whereas the opposite is false of nonconsequentialist theories. Rights, duty or virtue-based theories cannot account for the fundamental moral importance of consequences. Because of this asymmetry, it seems it would be preferable to become a consequentialist – indeed, it would be virtually impossible not to be a consequentialist.

Another argument in favor of consequentialism has to do with the causes of different types of moral judgments: see Are Deontological Moral Judgments Rationalizations?

Update: see Carl's criticism.

Who is weakening the conditions for a theory being "consequentialism"? The thing described by Peterson seems perfectly in line with consequentialism. And his point about asymmetry among moral theories remains.

Well, there are a lot of things that get called "consequentialism" (take a look at the SEP article for a similar point). I personally find that "consequentialism" connotes to "agent-neutral" in my head, but that may just be me. I feel like requiring neutrality is a more interesting position precisely because bare consequentialism is so weak: it's not really surprising that almost everything is a form of it.

There's also the possibility of accidental equivocation, since people use "consequentialism" to stand for so man... (read more)

2torekp14y

The problem with Kantianism-as-"consequentialism" is that the consequences you have to portray the agent as pursuing, are not very plausible ultimate goals, on the face of it. What makes the usual versions of consequentialism appealing is, in large part, the immediate plausibility of the claim that these goals (insert the particular theory of the good here) are what really and ultimately matter. If we specify particular types of actions in the goal (e.g., lying is to be minimized) and index to the agent, that immediate plausibility fades.

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(Almost) every moral theory can be represented by a utility function

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(Almost) every moral theory can be represented by a utility function

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