Proponents of the doctrine of double effect, like medieval just war theorists, are careful to warn that our actions must be “proportionate.” In that case, though, why do we need the idea of double effect at all? We could just say that a responsible agent should weigh up all the foreseeable consequences of her action, both welcome and unwelcome. If the action will produce, all things considered, the best outcome among all the things she could do in her situation, she should perform that action. The response to this, I think, would be that the doctrine of double effect is designed for people who
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