ClimateAugust 19, 2026
consequentialist
kon-suh-KWEN-shuh-list
Definition
Relating to a philosophy that judges the morality or validity of an action solely by its outcome or results rather than by the inherent nature of the act itself.
Etymology
Derived from 'consequence' (from Latin 'consequentia') plus the suffix '-ist.' The term emerged in the 20th century to describe ethical theories focused on ends rather than means.
In the news
The authors use this term to describe a conservation approach that justifies activities like hunting or animal culling based on the economic or ecological benefits they produce, rather than the morality of the act.
When conservation science puts a price on an elephant’s death
Read the full article ↗Daily Maverick