Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism
Two versions of utilitarianism differing in their decision procedure: act utilitarianism evaluates individual actions' consequences directly; rule utilitarianism evaluates rules' general consequences. The distinction addresses whether morality should maximize happiness on each occasion or follow rules that generally maximize happiness.
Real World
During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments debated whether to impose strict lockdowns (a rule utilitarian approach) or allow case-by-case risk assessments (act utilitarian). The UK's initial 'herd immunity' strategy reflected act utilitarian thinking before rule-based restrictions were introduced.
Exam Focus
When 'evaluating' act vs. rule utilitarianism, always pair each strength with a specific counter-weakness to reach a balanced judgement.
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