Final answer:
The given statement is a legal concept related to acting with a level of intent or recklessness where the individual should have known their actions could result in serious harm. It encompasses criminal law aspects like manslaughter or assault.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement consciously doing an act that the person knew or should have known was likely to cause death or great bodily injury refers to a legal concept of acting with a certain level of intent or recklessness. It suggests that the individual had knowledge or should have been aware that their actions could result in serious harm to another. This is often related to criminal law where intent must be proven for certain crimes such as manslaughter or assault.
Philosophical pillars often influence legal theories, such as the idea that no one willingly chooses what is harmful to themselves and the notion that when a person does harm to others, they actually harm themselves. These principles might be applied in legal defenses or in understanding the motivation behind certain actions from a legal perspective.