Making decisions is a key aspect of our brains and daily lived experiences. Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly making decisions. Those decisions are driven by different models, some of which we habitually lean on more heavily than others. One of these models is consequence-based reasoning, or the tendency to make decisions based on their impact or consequences on the individual or those around them. This model is so baked into our thinking that it can be hard to imagine an alternative. That’s because it is so appealing. It feels rational, objective, even scientific. It is easy to communicate and justify. It aligns with meeting goals. It just feels fair.

But there are plenty of reasons to be cautious about consequence-based thinking. First, there is the problem of justice. Often, consequence-based thinking benefits the majority at the cost of some minority. Therefore, we end up with freeways running through poor neighborhoods and beautiful products that can't be used by people with limited vision. The needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few is well and good for Mr. Spock but at some point, we need to recognize that the few are really getting screwed.

Other problems with consequence-based reasoning relate to how........

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