What is consequentialism, and how does it differ from deontology? Provide examples of ethical dilemmas that each theory would approach differently.

Consequentialism and deontology are two prominent ethical theories that have been developed to guide decision making in moral dilemmas. Consequentialism is an ethical theory that evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences, while deontology is an ethical theory that evaluates the morality of an action based on whether it adheres to moral rules or duties.

Consequentialism argues that the morality of an action depends on the outcome it produces. In other words, an action is considered morally right if it leads to good consequences and morally wrong if it leads to bad consequences. The key focus of consequentialism is on the end result, rather than on the means used to achieve that result. One example of a consequentialist ethical dilemma is the trolley problem, in which a runaway trolley is heading towards a group of people on a track, and the only way to save them is to switch the track to another track where there is only one person. A consequentialist would choose to switch the track to save the greater number of people, as this would produce the best overall outcome.

On the other hand, deontology argues that the morality of an action depends on whether it adheres to moral rules or duties, regardless of its consequences. Deontologists believe that certain actions are inherently right or wrong, and that individuals have a moral duty to act in a way that upholds these values. For example, a deontologist would argue that it is always wrong to kill an innocent person, regardless of the consequences. An example of a deontological ethical dilemma is the case of a doctor who is faced with the decision to tell a patient the truth about their terminal illness, even though it may cause them distress. A deontologist would argue that the doctor has a moral duty to tell the truth, even if it causes harm, because honesty is a moral rule that must be upheld.

In summary, consequentialism and deontology are two different ethical theories that approach ethical dilemmas from different perspectives. Consequentialism evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences, while deontology evaluates the morality of an action based on whether it adheres to moral rules or duties. These different perspectives can lead to different approaches to ethical dilemmas, such as the trolley problem and the case of the doctor and their patient.