Final answer:
Transferred intent is a legal principle where the intent to harm an intended person is legally applied to an unintended victim who is actually harmed. It is essential for holding individuals accountable for the consequences of their actions, which is in line with utilitarian ethical theory that prioritizes outcomes over intentions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transferred intent occurs within the legal system when an individual commits an intentional act that results in harm to an unintended victim. This concept means that if someone intends to harm one person but accidentally harms another, the intent transfers to the unintended victim.
For example, if a person throws a rock intending to hit person A but instead hits person B, the intent to harm A transfers to B, making the individual legally responsible for the harm caused to person B. This principle is essential because it holds people accountable for the consequences of their actions, regardless of their original intent.
In the context of utilitarianism, an individual's intent is not considered morally relevant. Only the scope of consequences matters when assessing the rightness of an action.
This ethical perspective suggests that even if unintended harm occurs, the individual is still morally at fault for the harm caused due to the outcomes of their actions. This distinguishes utilitarianism from other normative ethical theories that place significance on an agent's character or intent.