Act and Rule Utilitarianism Essay Sample
Throughout this essay I will be comparing the Act and Rule fluctuations of Utilitarianism to bring out the difference between the two. Utilitarianism is teleological or consequentialist attack to moralss. which argues that something is good or bad harmonizing to its benefit for the bulk of the people. Jeremy Bentham formalized this theory through his rule of Utility. “the greatest good for the greatest number” . Act Utilitarianism is frequently linked to Jeremy Bentham’s rule of Utility as it follows the one regulation – “the greatest good for the greatest number” . So an single action is merely right if it promotes felicity. Rule utilitarianism argues that moral regulations. besides based on the rule of Utility. should be kept by everyone in similar fortunes.
Act Utilitarianism states that one must make up one’s mind what action will take to the greatest good in a peculiar state of affairs and use the rule of public-service corporation straight. You need to look at the effects of a peculiar act and what will convey about the greatest felicity. This makes it teleological as it focuses on the effects and stop point ( telos ) . Act Utilitarianism is besides really flexible due it being comparative to a state of affairs. regulations can change. There are no necessary moral regulations except one: that we should ever seek the greatest felicity for the greatest figure in all state of affairss. This signifier of Utilitarianism is hence closely linked to Bentham’s signifier of Utilitarianism. An illustration of where Act Utilitarianism would be imposed is if you were a escort protecting the President and you tackled him down to the floor to salvage him from being shot. it can be argued that you undertaking him down brings small good or felicity. nevertheless the effect of salvaging his life brings a greater felicity.
Rule Utilitarianism is normally linked with John Stuart Mill. Rule utilitarians believe that regulations should be formed utilizing useful rules for the benefit for everyone in society. Your action would be judged either right or incorrect by the goodness or badness of the effect of a regulation that everyone would follow in similar state of affairss. Rule utilitarianism allows us to set up a set of rules/laws. which would advance felicity and by and large be right in most fortunes for illustration. being honest or maintaining your promises. Though the formation of these regulations would be based on the effect ( doing it consequentialist ) . the contraption of Rule utilitarianism would be deontological because it looks at the action that has been already established into a regulation. Strong Rule utilitarians believe that these regulations should ne’er be disobey no affair what. while more indulgent and weak Rule utilitarians believe though there should be widely accepted guidelines. they should non ever be followed in a state of affairs where ignoring a regulation would convey greater felicity.
However. there are many differences of these two signifiers of Utilitarianism. one being that Act Utilitarians is applied straight to a peculiar action in a peculiar circumstance. while Rule Utilitarianism is applied to a choice of set of regulations which are in bend used to find what to make in peculiar state of affairss. Another cardinal difference is that Act Utilitarianism is flexible as it holds no more regulations. ( other than the rule of Utility in all state of affairss ) . as the action that should be applied to every state of affairs is comparative in comparing to Rule utilitarianism which has an established set of regulations that can non transition from age to age. For illustration. Act Utilitarianism would let for alterations in moral regulations over centuries while Rule Utilitarianism would hold already established regulations. which. if followed decently. should non be broken. For illustration. over 2000 old ages ago slavery might hold been accepted and considered socially moral. over the old ages Act utilitarians would hold changed their positions on this due to the flexibleness of their rule. while a Rule Utilitarian would non interrupt the set of regulations established for this peculiar state of affairs.
To reason. though both Act and Rule utilitarianism are linked to the rule of Utility. one must non confound the two as similar at all. This is because Act Utilitarianism refers to Laws as regulations of pollex that can be disregarded if the circumstance will ensue in the greatest good for the greatest figure. Rule Utilitarianism argues that moral regulations deducing from the rule of public-service corporation. should be kept by everyone for a society to thrive and be happy. Act Utilitarianism is besides much more flexible as it allows the rule of public-service corporation to be applied comparatively to a state of affairs. in comparing to Rule Utilitarianism. which if you are a strong follower. has established regulations that can non be adjusted or disobeyed depending on the state of affairs.
