act and rule utilitarianism

rule utilitarianism

• consequences of having everyone following a particular rule and calculates overall utility of accepting or rejecting rule.

• Mills utilitarianism is more rule.

• these rules lead to the greater good for greatest amount of people.

• strong rule utilitarian’s - would always follow the rule

• weak rule utiliarians’s - will use the rule as a guide but will review in particular situations

R.M Hare - Rule utilitarianism

• a person is being chased into a shop by the maniac and decides to hide.

• the maniac then also runs into the shop and asks the shopkeeper where the person is.

• using rule utilitarianism - what should the shopkeeper do. lie or tell the truth?

‘in particular cases act utilitarianism can justify disobeying important rules and violates individual rights’

act utilitarianism

• consequences of each individual act. meaning every situation is treated individually.

• believes that rules are not as helpful as it takes away to the point of utilitarianism

• Joseph Fletcher argued that in every situation we should calculate the best action and never follow rules.

R.M Hare - act utilitarianism

• suggests we should form rules in which we follow on an every-day basis however when more extreme cases occur we should evaluate specifics

• meaning we should follow both act and rule utilitarianism and follow them accordingly.

Rule utilitarianism - strengths

• overcome weaknesses of act as there would be a rule ensuring we have leisure time.

• protects against he misuse of the hedonic calculus to justify selfish gain.

rule utilitarianism - weaknesses

• using R.M hare’s maniac situation, the shopkeeper couldn’t lie even if it was for the greater good and it’s a rule not to lie.

• could still permit certain practices such as slavery because it’s the majority that would be getting the benefits.

act utilitarianism - strengths and weaknesses

strengths -

• flexible - takes into account individual situations

weaknesses -

• has the potential to justify any act if it produces most happiness.

• impractical to measure every moral choice each time

• can lead to so extreme results

• unreasonable expectations of individuals to make decisions.

preference utilitarianism

• preference utilitarianism tries to maximise the satisfaction of people’s preferences.

• this means everyone who is involved in the situation must have their interests given equal consideration.

• when weighing up a situation a person must realise their interests are not worth anymore than those affected.

• a person must do their best to take into account all interests and and choose a course which brings about the best consequence.

preference utilitarianism - strengths and weaknesses

strengths

• everyone’s preferences and interests are equally weighed

• cares about minority preferences

• takes into account the situation

weaknesses

• has to calculate every situation separately

• we cannot predict the consequences.