Which ethical principle emphasizes the importance of consequential outcomes?

The Utilitarian Principle emphasizes the importance of consequential outcomes by focusing on the results of actions to determine their moral worth. It advocates for actions that maximize overall happiness or utility for the greatest number of people. This approach evaluates ethical decisions based on the outcomes they produce, thus prioritizing the balance of benefits over harms. The core belief is that the right course of action is the one that leads to the most favorable consequences, making this principle fundamentally oriented towards the impact that decisions have on individuals and society as a whole.

In contrast, the Deontological Principle is centered around adherence to rules or duties, regardless of the outcomes. Virtue Ethics focuses on the character and virtues of the individual rather than the results of specific actions, while the Relativist Principle suggests that ethical standards are not universal and may vary based on cultural or contextual factors. These other principles do not primarily concern themselves with the consequences of actions, which is why they diverge from the focus of the Utilitarian Principle.