Smart; Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism

The Problem of Justice

Justice requires us to treat people according to their past actions.

• Utilitarianism judges the rightness of actions only according to their future consequences.

Act Utilitarianism

An act is right just in case it would produce the most possible overall happiness.

• Moral rules are rules of thumb. They are generalizations that admit of exceptions.

Rule Utilitarianism

An act is right just in case it would be permitted under the rules that would lead to the most possible overall happiness if they were followed.

• Moral rules determine which acts are right and wrong. An act is right if it is permitted by the best rules, even if it does not produce the most overall happiness.

Rule Utilitarianism is Irrational

1. If the aim of following a rule is to produce good results, it is irrational to follow that rule when you know that breaking it would produce better results.

2. Moral rules are justified because following them produces good results.

3. Requires us to follow moral rules when we can knowingly produce better results by breaking them.

4. SO, rule utilitarianism requires us to follow rules irrationally.