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Consequentialist justifications of the state

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As an example, consequentialists might observe that the state builds bridges. They would ask whether those bridges would have been built in the absence of the state and whether those bridges are valued by those who use them. If the bridges would not have otherwise been built and they are valuable to
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A philosopher who doubts or denies the legitimacy of the state might respond by questioning the ethical premise, saying for example that the workers who built that bridge were exploited by the government that ordered it built, and/or by the investors in the private contractors who profited. The
43:. Typically, a justification of the state explains why the state should exist, and what a legitimate state should or should not be able to do. Consequentialist justifications of the state focus on the results that are achieved when certain institutions are put in place. They are based on 106:
Alternatively, a skeptic might concede that the bridge is a good consequence but contend that even on consequentialist grounds the argument fails. He might argue that an even better bridge might have been built under
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Consequentialist theories usually maintain that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on whether the results of the action are desirable. They are frequently contrasted to
51:. Consequentialism is sometimes confused with utilitarianism, but utilitarianism is only one member of a broad family of consequentialist theories. 84: 76:
is an institution that legitimates a particular government. Sometimes arguments about legitimacy have a mystical side to them, as when kings claim
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Different political philosophies have distinct opinions concerning the state as a domestic organization
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Philosophical arguments that contend that the state is justified by the good results it produces
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theories of morality, which typically hold that certain actions are either forbidden or wrong
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For the consequentialist theory that views state stability as a moral good, see
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those who use them, then the existence of the state is justified.
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and the whole issue becomes an exercise in economic reasoning.
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is the source of legitimate authority for the state or
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conditions. This counter-argument raises the issue of
29:are philosophical arguments which contend that the 243: 33:is justified by the good results it produces. 226: 27:Consequentialist justifications of the state 233: 219: 67: 72:In law and political theory, a state or 244: 181: 13: 14: 273: 185: 152: 37:The justification of the state 1: 145: 205:. You can help Knowledge by 135:Rule according to higher law 7: 130:Justification for the state 118: 10: 278: 262:Political philosophy stubs 180: 18: 95:philosopher might have a 68:Justifications of state 21:State consequentialism 252:Political philosophy 195:political philosophy 193:This article about 164:www.britannica.com 85:monopolizing force 214: 213: 47:theories such as 269: 257:Consequentialism 235: 228: 221: 189: 182: 175: 174: 172: 171: 156: 125:Consequentialism 113:opportunity cost 45:consequentialist 277: 276: 272: 271: 270: 268: 267: 266: 242: 241: 240: 239: 179: 178: 169: 167: 158: 157: 153: 148: 140:Sovereign state 121: 70: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 275: 265: 264: 259: 254: 238: 237: 230: 223: 215: 212: 211: 190: 177: 176: 150: 149: 147: 144: 143: 142: 137: 132: 127: 120: 117: 69: 66: 49:utilitarianism 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 274: 263: 260: 258: 255: 253: 250: 249: 247: 236: 231: 229: 224: 222: 217: 216: 210: 208: 204: 200: 196: 191: 188: 184: 183: 165: 161: 155: 151: 141: 138: 136: 133: 131: 128: 126: 123: 122: 116: 114: 110: 104: 102: 98: 97:deontological 92: 88: 86: 81: 79: 75: 65: 63: 62: 57: 56:deontological 52: 50: 46: 42: 38: 34: 32: 28: 22: 207:expanding it 192: 168:. Retrieved 166:. 2024-01-12 163: 154: 105: 101:exploitation 93: 89: 82: 78:divine right 71: 59: 53: 35: 26: 25: 246:Categories 170:2024-02-22 146:References 99:theory of 41:government 109:anarchist 74:sovereign 119:See also 199:theory 61:per se 201:is a 31:state 203:stub 197:or 248:: 162:. 103:. 87:. 80:. 64:. 234:e 227:t 220:v 209:. 173:. 23:.

Index

State consequentialism
state
The justification of the state
government
consequentialist
utilitarianism
deontological
per se
sovereign
divine right
monopolizing force
deontological
exploitation
anarchist
opportunity cost
Consequentialism
Justification for the state
Rule according to higher law
Sovereign state
"Consequentialism | Utilitarianism, Morality, Hedonism | Britannica"
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