--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consequentialist theories pretend that we…" description: "\"Consequentialist theories pretend that we can set some great big ends (the general happiness, human flourishing), provide ourselves with definite enoug..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/allen-w-wood-2748_action_consequentialist-theories-pretend-that-w_868751.jpg" --- # Consequentialist theories pretend that we can set some… ![“Consequentialist theories pretend that we can set some great big ends (the general happiness, human flourishing), provide ourselves with definite enough conceptions of them to make them the objects of instrumental reasoning, and then obtain enough reliable information about what actions will best…” quote by Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/allen-w-wood-2748_action_consequentialist-theories-pretend-that-w_868751.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/allen-w-wood-2748_action_consequentialist-theories-pretend-that-w_868751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/allen-w-wood-2748_action_consequentialist-theories-pretend-that-w_868751.jpg) > “Consequentialist theories pretend that we can set some great big ends (the general happiness, human flourishing), provide ourselves with definite enough conceptions of them to make them the objects of instrumental reasoning, and then obtain enough reliable information about what actions will best promote them that we could regulate our conduct by these considerations alone.” [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consequentialism assumes we can define ultimate goals, predict outcomes, and base actions solely on that knowledge. **In simple terms:** It claims we can act only on measurable outcomes. Key Takeaway Question the feasibility of measuring ultimate good. Themes ethics consequentialism philosophy decisionmaking goalsetting Mood critical inquisitive Type theoretical philosophical When to use this quote - policy design - personal moral choices - business strategy Key Concepts utilitarianism predictive modeling instrumental reasoning Questions to Reflect On - Can we truly know what maximizes overall happiness? - What limits our ability to predict outcomes? A Different Perspective Human values are often too complex to quantify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consideration/) [Flourishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flourishing/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) ## Related quotes > [When consequentialist theories are developed in terms of an equally shallow psychology of the good - such as a crude form of hedonism -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/when-consequentialist-theories-are-developed-in-terms-of-an-equally/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Consequentialist theories begin with a very simple and undoubtedly valid point: Every action aims at a future end, and is seen as a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/consequentialist-theories-begin-with-a-very-simple-and-undoubtedly/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/we-have-to-go-from-what-is-essentially-an-industrial-model-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“I exist to increase human flourishing and decrease human suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bilyeu/i-exist-to-increase-human-flourishing-and-decrease-human-suffering/) Tom Bilyeu > [We would say homosexuality is not the original design for sexuality. 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We thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/i-have-a-feeling-that-we-ve-seen-the-dismantling-of-civilisation/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Because the Internet is a medium, it doesn't care whether it transmits love or hate. It is what we build and who we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/because-the-internet-is-a-medium-it-doesn-t-care-whether-it-transmits/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [“Your unconscious wants to entangle you in the thick web of relations that are the essence of human flourishing. It longs and pushes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/your-unconscious-wants-to-entangle-you-in-the-thick-web-of-relations/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## More by Allen W. Wood > [For the utilitarian, there is a fact of the matter about the good (the general happiness, or whatever conception of the good the utilitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/for-the-utilitarian-there-is-a-fact-of-the-matter-about-the-good-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [No theory about our bodies as mere objects of observation and calculation (as distinct from partners in communicative interaction, assumed to be free) can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/no-theory-about-our-bodies-as-mere-objects-of-observation-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kantian ethical theory distinguishes three levels: First, that of a fundamental principle (the categorical imperative, formulated in three main ways in Kant's Groundwork); second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kantian-ethical-theory-distinguishes-three-levels-first-that-of-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Some empirical feelings, such as sympathy, are indispensable parts of certain moral virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/some-empirical-feelings-such-as-sympathy-are-indispensable-parts-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We commit not only theoretical error but also moral wrong in objectifying ourselves or other rational beings, ignoring their capacities for free action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-commit-not-only-theoretical-error-but-also-moral-wrong-in/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant certainly was sympathetic with the metaphysical tradition of rational theology that he criticized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-certainly-was-sympathetic-with-the-metaphysical-tradition-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [That Hegel's theory is derivative from Fichte's does not prevent it from being strikingly original and of independent value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/that-hegel-s-theory-is-derivative-from-fichte-s-does-not-prevent-it/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is sad to witness the persistence in our society of the racism and xenophobia that seems to be a permanent part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-sad-to-witness-the-persistence-in-our-society-of-the-racism-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is rational to choose the right means to your ends to develop very elegant abstract formal theories of rational choice, and then turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-rational-to-choose-the-right-means-to-your-ends-to-develop-very/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We can never prove that we are free or integrate our freedom in any way into our objective conception of the causal order of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-can-never-prove-that-we-are-free-or-integrate-our-freedom-in-any/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant regards the universalizability test for maxims as focused on a very special sort of situation: one where the agent is tempted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-regards-the-universalizability-test-for-maxims-as-focused-on-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [My own view is that Kant's conception of the duality of the good (morality and happiness, the good of our person and the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/my-own-view-is-that-kant-s-conception-of-the-duality-of-the-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is actually a nice question how far Descartes himself endorses the monological and metaphysically dualistic theory of mind associated with his name and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-actually-a-nice-question-how-far-descartes-himself-endorses-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [In fact people do not know enough about themselves and what is good for them to form a sufficiently definite conception of the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/in-fact-people-do-not-know-enough-about-themselves-and-what-is-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Empiricist philosophy always tends to be anti-philosophy (and is often proud of it).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/empiricist-philosophy-always-tends-to-be-anti-philosophy-and-is-often/) [Allen W. 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