CONSEQUENTIALIST AND DEONTOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKS

• Consequentialist Theories: evaluate behavior in terms of its consequences. They are dedicated to the promotion of the good consequences, either directly or indirectly. This means a consequentialist will examine possible scenarios and choose the one with the best result.
  
  
• Utilitarian Theories: emphasizes happiness-producing consequences. Utilitarians conclude that happiness is the only intrinsic good, because it is not desired for the sake of anything else. A utilitarian seeks to get the greatest good from a situation (derive the maximum net happiness). There are two types of utilitarian theories:
  
  
  • Act Utilitarianism: the belief that each case should be studied individually and a choice is made based on the best outcomes possible.
    
    
  • Rule Utilitarianism: the belief that the maximum benefit would be derived if a small and simple set of rules are followed by everyone. They believe that it is time consuming and unnecessary to contemplate every scenario when a set of rules work in the long run.
  
  
• Deontological Theories: Deontological theories put the emphasis on the internal character of the act itself. If the act can be universalized, then the action is right. This means the choice made in a situation would remain the same in all circumstances. The action comes from a sense of duty.