Consequences: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:53, 16 December 2024

Child facing the consequences of his actions. He knows what he did.

In utilitarianism, which is also known as consequentialism, the results of our actions upon the emotions and well-being of others is the source of all ethical consideration.

Modern technology has changed the consequences involved in many moral traditions, resulting in cognitive dissonance when people are no longer able to see the harm in things that they were taught were mortal sins. The quintessential example is sex before marriage, which was like playing Russian Roulette before the birth control pill, penicillin, and legalized abortion. Those technologies have now made unwanted pregnancy and STDs largely irrelevant to those with adequate sex education.

Anyone whose ethics prioritizes the actual consequences of our actions over its adherence to scripture and tradition must acknowledge that these inventions make sex before marriage less immoral, at the vary least. It could also be argued that it changes the equation to the point where the benefits outweigh the consequences, especially if cultural norms can become more sex positive and slut stigmas subside.

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+[[File:Consequences-of-our-actions-kid-in-jail.jpg|thumb|Child facing the consequences of his actions. He knows what he did.]]
 In [[utilitarianism]], which is also known as [[wikipedia:Consequentialism|consequentialism]], the results of our actions upon the [[emotions]] and [[well-being]] of others is the source of all [[ethical]] consideration.
-Modern [[technology]] has changed the consequences involved in many [[moral]] [[traditions]], resulting in [[cognitive dissonance]] when people are no longer able to see the harm in things that they were taught were mortal sins. The quintessential example is [[sex]] before [[marriage]], which was like playing [[wikipedia:Russian_roulette|Russian Roulette]] before the birth control pill, penicillin, and legalized [[abortion]]. Those [[technologies]] have now made unwanted pregnancy and STDs largely irrelevant to those with adequate [[sex]] [[education]]. Anyone whose [[ethics]] prioritizes the actual consequences of our actions over its adherence to [[scripture]] and [[tradition]] must acknowledge that these inventions make [[sex]] before [[marriage]] ''less immoral'', at the vary least. It could also be argued that it changes the equation to the point where the benefits outweigh the consequences, especially if [[cultural norms]] can become more [[wikipedia:Sex-positive_movement|sex positive]] and slut stigmas subside.
+Modern [[technology]] has changed the consequences involved in many [[moral]] [[traditions]], resulting in [[cognitive dissonance]] when people are no longer able to see the harm in things that they were taught were mortal sins. The quintessential example is [[sex]] before [[marriage]], which was like playing [[wikipedia:Russian_roulette|Russian Roulette]] before the birth control pill, penicillin, and legalized [[abortion]]. Those [[technologies]] have now made unwanted pregnancy and STDs largely irrelevant to those with adequate [[sex]] [[education]].
+Anyone whose [[ethics]] prioritizes the actual consequences of our actions over its adherence to [[scripture]] and [[tradition]] must acknowledge that these inventions make [[sex]] before [[marriage]] ''less immoral'', at the vary least. It could also be argued that it changes the equation to the point where the benefits outweigh the consequences, especially if [[cultural norms]] can become more [[wikipedia:Sex-positive_movement|sex positive]] and slut stigmas subside.