Lesser of two evils principle
The lesser of two evils principle is an ethical framework that assists individuals in making decisions when faced with two undesirable options, both of which may lead to negative outcomes. This principle is particularly relevant in contexts such as healthcare and political voting, where choices often involve significant moral dilemmas. Under this principle, one is encouraged to select the option that inflicts the least harm or suffering, even if both choices are fundamentally flawed.
For instance, a classic moral scenario involves a train conductor who must choose between switching tracks to save either one person or five people, highlighting the principle's practical application in life-and-death situations. However, real-life applications of this principle can be complex, as individuals may have differing perspectives on what constitutes "evil" or "good."
The lesser of two evils principle is occasionally related to the principle of double effect, which differentiates between outcomes intended versus outcomes that are merely foreseen. As individuals from various cultural and religious backgrounds engage with these principles, they can serve as guides in navigating ethical challenges that lack clear answers. Ultimately, the principle underscores the importance of making informed decisions in morally challenging circumstances while acknowledging the inherent complexity of these choices.
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Lesser of two evils principle
The lesser of two evils principle is an ethical principle that helps people make ethical decisions in morally difficult situations. The principle states that people who have to choose between two evil actions should choose the action that is less evil. In ethics, evil is what is most undesirable and usually includes pain, suffering, or death. The lesser of two evils principle is commonly discussed regarding decisions in situations such as health care and voting. The principle is related to the principle of double effect, which is a more well-defined and researched ethical principle.
Background
Ethics is the field of study that develops and analyzes theories about right and wrong behavior. Many different branches of ethics exist. Philosophers, theologians, and other thinkers have developed principles to help people make ethical decisions. The lesser of two evils principle focuses on actions that could have negative, or evil, outcomes. In some situations, a person making a decision has two options, both of which have negative, or evil, outcomes. This principle is meant to help make decisions in instances in which it seems that there is no morally correct choice.
Overview
The lesser of two evils principle is meant to guide people when a decision they make in a particular situation would have morally negative outcomes. For example, a situation might arise in which a train is on a set of tracks, and it must be switched to one of two sets of tracks. If the conductor switches the train to the first set of tracks, the train will hit a group of five people. If the conductor switches the train to the second set of tracks, the train will hit only one person. If the conductor does not switch the train to one of the two sets of tracks, it would crash and kill hundreds of people. Moving the train to either set of tracks would result in an evil outcome. But the conductor must make a decision between those two evils to save the most lives. The conductor could use an ethical theory or principle to make this decision. In this simplistic example, the conductor should move the train to the track with one person to follow the lesser of two evils principle. The decision that would cause the death of one person is, without any other information, the less evil action.
Although the lesser evil in this example is clear, the lesser evil in real-life situations often is unclear. Furthermore, people do not always agree about which outcomes or actions are good and which are evil. Therefore, making decisions using the lesser of two evils principle is almost always more complicated than the decision in this example.
People apply the lesser of two evils principle in different decision-making scenarios. The principle is sometimes applied to decision-making for people of particular religions. Some Christians, Jews, and Muslims have applied the principle to their decision-making. Medical professionals also have used the principle in making decisions to make the best possible decisions in morally difficult situations.
The lesser of two evils principle can also be used in voting. In the United States, two main political parties hold much of the political power. Because of this, voters often feel as though they must choose between two candidates. People who have to choose between two candidates for certain offices, such as the office of the president, may feel as though both candidates are flawed. Voters could use the lesser of two evils principle to determine which candidate is more appropriate to hold office. Although many people attempt to vote for the lesser evil in elections, people do not always agree about what is evil and which candidates are less evil.
The lesser of two evils principle is related to another ethical principle—the principle of double effect. Both principles try to explain how to choose a course of action in morally difficult situations. Although the two principles are sometimes conflated, they are different. The principle of double effect was developed in part by Christian theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas. The principle states that an act can be morally correct, even if one of its outcomes is negative, or evil, as long as the action is undertaken to bring about a different, morally right outcome. Therefore, actions that have both positive and negative consequences may be considered with the principle of double effect.
An example of the principle of double effect is a doctor who is caring for a terminally ill patient who is in a great deal of pain. The doctor administers a high dose of painkillers to the patient to relieve the pain. In doing so, the doctor hastens the patient's death. According to the principle of double effect, the doctor could justify the decision to administer the pain medication. Relieving pain with medication generally is a morally sound act; many ethical theories purport that reducing pain and suffering is good. But causing the death of an innocent person is evil, according to most ethical theories and principles. Nevertheless, the death of the patient was not the doctor's intention. The doctor intended to end suffering, not to end the patient's life. Therefore, according to the principle of double effect, the doctor made an ethical decision. However, if the doctor had administered the same amount of pain medication to the same patient with the intention of hastening the patient's death, the doctor would not have acted morally, according to the principle of double effect. The intention of the person taking the moral action is important to consider with both the lesser of two evils principle and the principle of double effect.
Bibliography
"Double Effect, Principle Of." Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward Craig, Taylor & Francis, 1998.
Grey, John. "Benedict De Spinoza: Moral Philosophy." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/spin-mor. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Hogan, Ginny. "The Wild History of 'Lesser of Two Evils' Voting." The Nation, 19 Mar. 2024, www.thenation.com/article/politics/lesser-of-two-evils-history-voting. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
McConnell, Terrance. "Moral Dilemmas." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 25 July 2022, plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-dilemmas. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
McIntyre, Alison. "Doctrine of Double Effect." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 17 July 2023, plato.stanford.edu/entries/double-effect. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Read, Leonard E. "The Lesser of Two Evils." Foundation for Economic Education, 1 Feb. 1963, fee.org/articles/the-lesser-of-two-evils. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.