Philosophy Consequentialism Questions
The difference between act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism lies in their approach to determining the morality of actions.
Act utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of individual actions. According to act utilitarianism, an action is morally right if it produces the greatest overall happiness or utility for the greatest number of people. Each action is evaluated independently, and the decision is made based on the specific circumstances and potential outcomes of that particular action.
On the other hand, rule utilitarianism emphasizes the importance of following general rules or principles that promote overall happiness or utility. Instead of evaluating each individual action, rule utilitarianism looks at the consequences of following a particular rule consistently. If a rule, when followed consistently, leads to the greatest overall happiness or utility, then it is considered morally right. Rule utilitarianism provides a more general framework for decision-making, as it focuses on the long-term consequences of adhering to certain rules rather than the immediate outcomes of individual actions.
In summary, act utilitarianism evaluates actions based on their immediate consequences, while rule utilitarianism focuses on the overall consequences of following general rules consistently.