Act and Rule Utilitarianism - Essay Example

As one can see, both follow the utilitarian dogma that something good must come in the end. Act utilitarianism focuses on the specific actions that will bring that good in the end. However, according to the rule utilitarian, this is improbable or even impossible. This begs the question: How does one determine if an act will produce a specific good This is where rule utilitarianism comes into the picture. One first determines what are the rules that if generally followed will produce the best results.

The rule utilitarian does not focus on finding the specific actions that will produce the best results since any act in accordance with that rule will produce a good.Thus, rule utilitarianism is more acceptable. An act in accordance with rule utilitarianism may or may not appeal to the act utilitarian, but this is better than trying in vain to find out what is that specific act the act utilitarian will accept.CriticismsWhichever form one may choose, both cannot escape the criticisms against utilitarianism that one may lie, steal, or kill just to enact that which is good.

In other words, the end justifies the means. One cogent criticism is by Crisp & Crisp (1992): "Utilitarianism fails by its own lights as a decision procedure."