Question

If people carried out actions which could potentially harm others, and others consented to the person carrying out the action, is carrying out such an action still ethical? If I were to judge this with the ethical framework of utilitarianism, would this be unethical as it advocates harm? If I were to judge this with the ethical framework of deontology, would this be unethical as the nature of the action intends to bring harm, and thus such an action is unethical?

Answer 1

According to both utilitarianism and deontology, carrying out an action that could harm others, even with consent, is considered unethical.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to utilitarianism, an action is considered ethical if it produces the greatest amount of happiness or utility for the greatest number of people. However, if an action has the potential to harm others, even if they provide consent, it can still be considered unethical within the utilitarian framework. This is because the overall consequences of the action may outweigh the happiness generated.

On the other hand, deontology focuses on the inherent nature of the action itself rather than its consequences. In deontological ethics, an action that aims to bring harm is considered unethical, regardless of whether others consent to it or not.

Therefore, carrying out an action that could potentially harm others, even with consent, would be viewed as unethical both in utilitarianism and deontology.