The principle according to which an action that has both a good and a bad effect is morally permissible on the following four conditions: (a) the act to be performed is morally good in itself or morally indifferent; (b) this act does not achieve the good at which it aims by means of the bad effect; (c) this act does not aim at the bad effect itself but only tolerates this effect; and (d) the act’s good effect is not outweighed by the act’s bad effect.  The principle of double effect has a very precise, discrete, and delimited application in moral analysis.