Act and Rule Utilitarianism

What is the main difference between Act and Rule Utilitarianism?

• Act Utilitarianism considers intentions, while Rule Utilitarianism disregards intentions.

• Act Utilitarianism focuses on individual actions, while Rule Utilitarianism focuses on following rules for the greatest good.

• Act Utilitarianism focuses on following rules, while Rule Utilitarianism focuses on individual actions.

• Act Utilitarianism emphasizes long-term consequences, while Rule Utilitarianism focuses on short-term outcomes.

Provide an example of Act Utilitarianism in a real-life scenario.

• A firefighter saving a pet over a human in a burning building

• A police officer letting a criminal go free because they are related

• A teacher giving the same grade to all students regardless of their effort

• A doctor prioritizing treating a patient with a life-threatening condition over others in the waiting room.

Explain how Rule Utilitarianism differs from Act Utilitarianism in terms of decision-making.

• Rule Utilitarianism prioritizes personal preferences, while Act Utilitarianism focuses on societal norms.

• Rule Utilitarianism focuses on individual actions, while Act Utilitarianism considers general rules.

• Rule Utilitarianism only considers short-term consequences, while Act Utilitarianism looks at long-term outcomes.

• Rule Utilitarianism follows predetermined rules to make decisions, whereas Act Utilitarianism evaluates each action independently based on its consequences.

Give an example of Rule Utilitarianism being applied in a societal context.

• Banning all forms of transportation to reduce accidents

• Encouraging reckless driving to test the limits of safety measures

• Ignoring traffic laws to promote individual freedom

• Implementing traffic laws to ensure safety and efficiency on the roads

How do Act and Rule Utilitarianism prioritize the well-being of individuals?

• Rule Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing happiness in each situation

• Act Utilitarianism emphasizes following general rules for overall well-being

• Act Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing happiness in each situation, while Rule Utilitarianism emphasizes following general rules for overall well-being.

• Act Utilitarianism prioritizes individual desires over overall well-being

Discuss a situation where Act Utilitarianism might lead to conflicting outcomes.

• Act Utilitarianism might lead to conflicting outcomes when the happiness of the majority conflicts with the happiness of a minority.

• Act Utilitarianism always leads to consistent outcomes

• Act Utilitarianism never considers minority happiness

• Conflicting outcomes are impossible in Act Utilitarianism

In what way does Rule Utilitarianism aim to create a more stable moral framework?

• By prioritizing individual happiness over the collective well-being

• By establishing rules that promote the greatest overall happiness in the long run.

• By disregarding the consequences of actions

• By changing the rules based on personal preferences

Can you think of a scenario where Act Utilitarianism would be more suitable than Rule Utilitarianism?

• When following a particular rule would result in harm or injustice, Act Utilitarianism would be more appropriate.

• Act Utilitarianism is never concerned with the overall outcome

• Rule Utilitarianism is more flexible in all situations

• Act Utilitarianism always leads to negative consequences

Explain how Act Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing happiness in the immediate moment.

• Act Utilitarianism evaluates each action based on its immediate impact on maximizing happiness.

• Act Utilitarianism considers long-term consequences over immediate happiness

• Act Utilitarianism focuses on minimizing happiness in the immediate moment

• Act Utilitarianism prioritizes individual happiness over collective well-being

Describe a case where Rule Utilitarianism could prevent negative consequences in the long run.

• Following rules that prioritize the well-being of society over individual actions can prevent negative consequences in the long run.

• Prioritizing short-term gains over long-term societal well-being

• Ignoring societal rules and focusing solely on individual benefits

• Implementing rules that only benefit a select group of people