Preview

Two Components Of Act Utilitarianism

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
236 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Two Components Of Act Utilitarianism
The first rule is the Utilitarian Rule; this rule is based from Utilitarianism. “Utilitarianism was conceived in the 19th century by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill to help legislators determine which laws were morally best” (Velasquez). Utilitarianism states that an ethical decision should produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people. There are two components to Utilitarianism which are Act-utilitarianism and Rule-utilitarianism. Act-utilitarianism is the theory which states that a person’s actions are morally right if and only if they produce at least as much happiness as any other act that the person could perform at that time (Nathanson). The rule-utilitarianism says that an action is right as it conforms to a rule that
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Act Utilitarianism Case Study
    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Act Utilitarianism Case Study

    The essential part of utilitarianism, whether it is Act or Rule, is to promote the greatest overall utility for the given situation. If we look in terms of Utilitarianism, one would be in favor of killing Tom to save the other four children. Even though, Tom would be killed, he would promote overall utility by saving four people through his one body. This reminds me a lot of the Trolley problem we studied in Unit five. They killed one man to save multiple. This may be considered immoral in a way, but according to Act Utilitarianism, the correct choice and the one that promotes overall utility would be to kill Tom and use his body to save the four siblings. In an Act Utilitarian’s mind, they would first think “In what way could I promote the greatest utility for every single person in the situation?” They must then think about the situation. The mother and father could either lose Tom, or they could lose their other four children. The Doctor could either kill Tom and save the four children or let Tom live and watch the others die…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Utilitarianism Act Research Paper
    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Utilitarianism Act Research Paper

    Utilitarianism Act means to do the right action that will benefit a good amount of people over any other option. In the two examples I read from Bernard Williams “A Critique of Utilitarianism” I realized those were two difficult choices these two men had to make. However, if we follow the Utilitarianism Act, George would of taken the job offer and Jim would unfortunately sacrifice one of the protestors to save the rest. By George taking the job offer, it would benefit his family financially and also help his family’s emotional battle. Also, George opposing chemical and biological warfare would mean he wont have much interest compared to the other gentlemen that had much more interest on the subject. This will benefit a large amount of people…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Main Strengths of Mill's Utilitarianism
    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Main Strengths of Mill's Utilitarianism

    With rule utilitarianism you first have to agree to the general rule then after you apply it to specific cases.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism
    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism

    In the article, “Strengths and Weaknesses of Utilitarianism”, Louis P. Pojman explained the grounds on which utilitarianism has been attacked and showed some possible response to its defenders which imply his positive attitude towards utilitarianism [1] . In order to argue that thesis, Pojman’s one important premise is the response to the no-rest objection. He believed that the agent should aim at maximizing his or her own happiness as well as other people’s happiness and is best not to worry much about the need of those not in our primary circle.[1] .…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Act and Utilitarianism
    • 677 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Act and Utilitarianism

    Assess the view that a religious concept of love is the most difficult to put into practice. (20 Marks)…

    • 677 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Act Utilitarianism
    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Act Utilitarianism

    The theory of Utilitarianism was first developed by Jeremy Bentham who was a philosopher of the 18th century. Bentham developed this theory to create a modern and rational approach to morality which would suit the changing society.…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explain The Key Ideas Of Utilitarianism
    • 972 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Explain The Key Ideas Of Utilitarianism

    Utilitarianism is a relativist, consequentialist and teleological system of ethics based on the idea of ‘utility’. This means usefulness and utilitarian suggest that everyone should be the most useful thing. The theory was devised by Jeremy Bentham who said “an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number”. He believed human beings are motivated by pleasure and pain.…

    • 972 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    act and rule
    • 777 Words
    • 3 Pages

    act and rule

    Throughout this essay I will be comparing the Act and Rule variations of Utilitarianism to uncover the difference between the two. Utilitarianism is teleological or consequentialist approach to ethics, which argues that something is good or bad according to its benefit for the majority of the people. Jeremy Bentham formalized this theory through his principle of Utility, “the greatest good for the greatest number”. Act Utilitarianism is often linked to Jeremy Bentham’s principle of Utility as it follows the one rule – “the greatest good for the greatest number”. So an individual action is only right if it promotes happiness. Rule utilitarianism argues that moral rules, also based on the principle of Utility, should be kept by everyone in similar circumstances.…

    • 777 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Utilitarianism Theory
    • 101 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Utilitarianism Theory

    Act utilitarianism and Rule utilitarianism are two forms of Utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism is when someone carries out any activity which is beneficial among most people, in spite of the community restrictions (e.g. Laws) as well as individual feelings. Rule utilitarianism is when someone considers Law and is anxious with equality. Anyone who is a rule utilitarian tries to find out what benefits majority through equality.…

    • 101 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Outline the Main Principles of Utilitarianism
    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Outline the Main Principles of Utilitarianism

    Utilitarianism is a teleological theory. Three main philosophers have come up with different types of utilitarianism these being: Bentham, Mill and Singer. Bentham introducing the idea of Act Utilitarianism, Mill adapting the ideas of Bentham and trying improve the flaws he saw with his Rule utilitarianism and Singer with his preference utilitarianism theory.…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Shaw and Barry
    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Shaw and Barry

    The second form of utilitarianism is called rule utilitarianism. According to our text, this form of utilitarianism maintains that the utilitarian standard should be applied, not to individual actions, but to moral codes as a whole (Shaw & Barry, p.76).…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Utilitarianism Classical Utilitarianism
    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Utilitarianism Classical Utilitarianism

    There is a further division between utilitarians; Act Utilitarianism and Rule Utilitarianism. Rule Utilitarianism, holds that one should always follow rules that tend to promote the general welfare of humans for example a rule might be not to killing people. Act Utilitarianism holds that one should always act to promote the general welfare.…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Utilitarianism Vs Utility Principle
    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Utilitarianism Vs Utility Principle

    Utilitarianism can be classified in two distinct ways, act and rule. In these ways the utility principle is applied differently. Act-Utilitarianism is concerned with treating each moral situation as unique; therefore, applied the utility principle to each act. The Fundamentals of Ethics states, “Rule-utilitarianism is the version of rule consequentialism that says that well-being is the only thing of intrinsic value” (Shafer-Landau, Russ G-6). This means rule-utilitarianism draws up general rules based on the utility principle. Furthermore, rules are right if they produce greatest happiness for the greatest number.…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explain Utilitarian Ethics
    • 616 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Explain Utilitarian Ethics

    Utilitarian ethics is an expansive field of normative ethics that believes that the action that you take should be that which maximises utility, that is to say prospering and maximizing happiness whilst mitigating suffering or sadness as much as possible. Whilst it was once often considered a hedonistic field, there being one that argues pleasure being the only true, intrinsic good or aim, it is now more commonly referred to that of a consequentiality field, focussed more on consequentialism. It may be argued then that there is quite a difference between the seemingly 'old Utilitarianism' and that of the new consequentialism.…

    • 616 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Utilitarianism
    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Utilitarianism

    Utilitarianism is the view that an act is right if it equals the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarians describe moral actions as actions that boost something good and lessen something that is bad. Virtue, knowledge, and goodwill are all good but they are only good if they give people a pleasurable existence. Pain is the only thing that is intrinsically bad. Utilitarians focus on the result of an act instead of the inherent nature of the act. An example would be an individual throwing their garbage into the ocean. Utilitarians would say throwing garbage into the ocean is not necessarily bad, but the effect it leaves will cause harm sooner or later and that is what is bad. I do not think that utilitarianism can be an ethical theory. It is simply too difficult to determine whether the utilitarian theory can be justified. The dilemma of trying to focus on a positive outcome or focusing on the actions that we take in order to accomplish the greatest good is too hard to measure.…

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics