![]() ![]() John Smart argues that refusal to break a generally beneficial rule in cases where it would be beneficial to do so seems irrational for a utilitarian and is a form of rule-worship. It is, for example, not difficult to imagine that a rule-utilitarian who lives by the rule ‘tell the truth’, sometimes will find him or herself forced to lie in order to increase utility. One objection to rule-utilitarianism is that in some situations the utility of breaking a certain rule could be greater than keeping it. Both theories count as utilitarian because both define that which produces the greatest utility as good and seek for the greatest nett amount of utility, be it either through actions or indirectly through rules. Utilitarianism holds that whatever produces the greatest utility (pleasure or any other such value as defined and justified by the utilitarian) is good and that which produces the greatest nett utility, is considered right. In the example above, the general rule would be: ‘share your wealth’. The principle of utility in rule-utilitarianism is to follow those rules which will result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Rule-utilitarianism is a reaction to that objection. This leaves open the question of how one is to incorporate utilitarianism into one’s life. To see the utility of an action as only a criterion for rightness is to regard the maximisation of utility as what makes an action right. ![]() The consequences of the act of giving money to charity would be considered right in act-utilitarianism, because the money increases the happiness of many people, rather than just yourself. In act-utilitarianism, we are required to promote those acts which will result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. In this short essay two types of utilitarianism are discussed. the maximise the amount of good in the world. The ethical theory of utilitarianism, the idea that we have to maximise the amount of utility, i.e.
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