the doctrine of the double effect

The doctrine [of the double effect] distinguishes two kinds of outcomes of actions: intended consequences of actions, and outcomes that are foreseen but not intended. Suppose that the outcome in question is evil...

For example, if the brakes on my car fail and I deliberately swerve to avoid a busy pedestrian crossing, seeing that in so doing I'll hit a passer-by, the evil outcome (the death of the passer-by) is foreseen but not intended by me. My intention is to avoid the people on the pedestrian crossing, not to kill the passer-by (if the passer-by were to leap out of the way, I wouldn't be disappointed at having my intentions frustrated).

- Stephen Holland, Bioethics: A Philosophical Introduction

the doctrine of the double effect lines up with graded absolutism, which i believe is philosophically and theologically sound. evil that is foreseen and intended (ie. evil that is formally intended) is always wrong, while evil that is foreseen but not intended (ie. evil that is materially intended) is never wrong.

God's sovereign choice

"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" - Romans 9:22-24 (NIV)

the objects of God's wrath are prepared for destruction, while the objects of God's mercy are prepared by God in advance for glory. the objects of God's wrath are foreseen but not intended by God, while the objects of God's mercy are foreseen and intended by God.

1. God foresees and intends good.
2. God foresees but does not intend evil.
3. God foresees and intends that evil 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)