According to John Stuart Mill and the Utilitarians, the most important component of ethical decisions is the consequences of the act. This belief is rooted in utilitarianism, which states that the morality of an action is determined by its outcome or consequence. In this ethical framework, the rightness or wrongness of an action is judged by its ability to maximize overall happiness or pleasure and minimize pain or suffering for the greatest number of people.
This perspective contrasts with other ethical theories like deontology, which focuses on the motives or intentions behind an action. Utilitarians prioritize the outcomes of actions over the motives because they believe that the ultimate goal of ethics is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number.
Therefore, in the view of John Stuart Mill and the Utilitarians, when making ethical decisions, the consequences of the act - its impact on the well-being of individuals or society as a whole - are considered the most important factor to consider.
