DOUBLE EFFECT Meaning and
Definition
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Double effect refers to a moral principle often used in ethical reasoning to evaluate the permissibility of an action that may have both good and bad consequences. It is based on the belief that under certain circumstances, it is morally acceptable to perform an action that has an unintended negative outcome if the primary intention was to achieve a morally good result. This principle recognizes that individuals may be confronted with situations where the pursuit of a good end may inadvertently cause harm or produce undesirable outcomes.
The concept of double effect typically involves four key conditions that must be met:
1. The action itself must be morally good or indifferent.
2. The agent must have the intention to achieve a good outcome and not the negative consequence.
3. The positive outcome must outweigh the negative consequence.
4. The negative consequence must not be directly intended, but merely foreseen or tolerated as a result of pursuing the primary intention.
The principle of double effect is often applied in fields such as medical ethics, specifically in cases involving end-of-life decisions or the use of palliative care. It is used to analyze whether the benefits of a particular action that may have potential side effects outweigh the harm caused, ultimately influencing the ethical evaluation of the action's permissibility.
Critics argue that the principle of double effect can be misused or manipulated to justify actions that may have significant negative consequences, while proponents maintain that it provides a framework for resolving complex ethical dilemmas where the potential for harm is unavoidable.
Common Misspellings for DOUBLE EFFECT
- souble effect
- xouble effect
- couble effect
- fouble effect
- rouble effect
- eouble effect
- diuble effect
- dkuble effect
- dluble effect
- dpuble effect
- d0uble effect
- d9uble effect
- doyble effect
- dohble effect
- dojble effect
- doible effect
- do8ble effect
- do7ble effect
- douvle effect
- dounle effect
Etymology of DOUBLE EFFECT
The term "double effect" is not derived from a specific etymology, as it is a compound noun made up of two separate words. However, the word "effect" comes from the Latin word "effectus", which means "execution, accomplishment, result". The word "double" comes from the Old French word "dooble", which arose from the Latin word "duplus", meaning "twofold" or "double". Thus, the term "double effect" signifies a twofold or double outcome or consequence.
Similar spelling words for DOUBLE EFFECT
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