Rule utilitarianism

Michael Lacewingenquiries@alevelphilosophy.co

.uk

Hedonist act utilitarianism

• Act consequentialism: Actions are morally right or wrong depending on their consequences and nothing else. An act is right if it maximizes what is good.

• Value theory: The only thing that is good is happiness.

• Equality: Everyone’s happiness counts more than anyone else’s.

Rule utilitarianism

• An action is right when it complies with those rules which, if everybody followed them, would lead to the greatest happiness (compared to any other set of rules)– It is not the consequences of the individual

act that matter, but the consequences of everyone following the rules that govern the actions

– Actions are right when they follow a rule that maximizes happiness overall – even when the action itself doesn’t maximize happiness in this particular situation

Advantages

• We don’t have to work out the consequences of each act in turn– We can create the rules once,

together• Some types of act are ruled out

– E.g. the rule forbidding torture of children will clearly cause more happiness if everyone followed it than the rule allowing torture of children

Advantages

• A rule that allows partiality to our family and friends will create more happiness than a rule that requires us to be impartial all the time.

• I am only required to act in a way that, if everyone acted like that, would promote the greatest happiness.

Objection

• ‘Rule-fetishism’: Why follow a rule when, on this occasion, breaking the rule will create more happiness?– E.g. I know not everyone will give to charity,

so shouldn’t I give more?– E.g. I know that lying here will create more

happiness than telling the truth– The point of the rules is to create the most

happiness – but they won’t always• Back to act utilitarianism

Replies

• Amend the rule– Life is too complicated – the rule will

become impossibly long• Using act utilitarianism to decide

how to act will break down our trust that people behave morally– If people keep breaking the rules, that

will create less happiness in the long run

Objection

• Morality can’t be summed up by rules• Reply: include the rule ‘When no other

rules apply, do that action that maximizes happiness’

• Other objections to utilitarianism, not rules– Is happiness the only value?– What is the moral value of motives and

character traits?– What is the value of friendship?