Abstract

What makes an action morally obligatory, the one that we are morally required to do? Different moral theories give different answers to this question. The simplest answer would be that just one consideration is relevant to the rightness of an action. Act‐consequentialism (which we will refer to as “consequentialism,” unless otherwise indicated) is a popular and influential theory that claims just this. On this view, the only morally relevant consideration is the effect an action will have on the amount of value in the world – you are morally required to bring about the greatest balance of good over bad.