ACT UTILITARIANISM VERSUS RULE UTILITARIANISM

Example of Act Utilitarianism

The Ethical Question: Should we (i.e., George and I) hack into Danny’s computer, just to see if we can do it (i.e., but not harm Danny’s computer)?

Step 1: List everyone affected by the action.

Step 2: Find out (either by directly asking someone or by using your moral imagination) how much pleasure and/or pain will be involved for every person affected by the action.

Step 3: Do that action that maximizes happiness for the persons affected by the action.

YES	Me	George	Danny	Total	Grand Total
Amount of Pleasure	+8	0	0	+8
Amount of Pain	0	-6	0	-6
					YES: +2
NO
Amount of Pleasure	0	+2	0	+2
Amount of Pain	-4	0	0	-4
					NO: -2

Result: More pleasure results from doing the action; therefore, we should do the action.

Examples of RULE Utilitarianism

The Ethical Question (Simple Example): I have made a promise to meet a friend who is on his deathbed; should I keep my promise?

Step 1: Think about the KIND or type of action that the action is.

Step 2: Ponder different rules, considering whether they maximize happiness in general.

Step 3: Do that action based on a rule that maximizes happiness in general (not necessarily for this action right now).

This action involves promise keeping, and the rule of keeping promises in general maximizes happiness.

Result: Since the rule of keeping promises IN GENERAL maximizes happiness (whether or not it does do that today in this action), I should keep my promise.

The Ethical Question (Complex Example): I have made a promise to meet a friend who is on his deathbed; on my way to meet him, I find a woman who is wounded (but curable) and needs my help (no one else is around). Should I keep my promise?

These actions involve either promise keeping or helping others, and both keeping promises and helping others maximize happiness in general.  Thus, we are faced with a dilemma (see below).

Result: EITHER:  One can argue that, since helping the woman is an immediate matter of life and death, and the rule of helping others maximizes happiness IN GENERAL, I should help the woman. OR: One could argue that the rule of keeping promises maximizes happiness, and keep his or her promise.  Problem:  If we pick the action that maximizes happiness IN THIS CASE, aren't we back to Act Utilitarianism, which makes Rule Utilitarianism pointless?  And if we can just pick either rule and be a rule utilitarian, then Rule Utilitarianism is arbitrary - it allows you to do whatever action you wish, as long as you can come up with a rule that seems to maximize happiness in general.