PBA211H: The Principle of Double Effect

Principles:

1. Can't do evil (the action taken must be good or morally neutral)
2. Can't intend evil (the evil effect must not be intended)
3. Can't depend on evil (the evil effect must not be the means through which the good comes about – the ends doesn't justify the means, we cannot do evil so that good may come about)
4. There needs to be a really good (proportionate) reason to tolerate evil as an unintended but foreseen side-effect

Dan Bader Nov 2008 tutorial

• self-defence
• mother's life at risk
• http://www.unmaskingchoice.ca/training/classroom/circumstances/danger
• http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/us-bishops-clarify-abortion-for-mother-s-health
• Can we ever “kill [an innocent person] to save?” What if there are no good moral options? (e.g. Margaret McBridge / modified Chilean miner's scenario)