Rule and Act Utilitarian - Article Example

Rule and Act Utilitarian Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is an ethnic theory based on the belief that s whether the acts done are right if they are useful or for the benefit of the majority. In Utilitarian point of view, it is not only told about rules but also about happiness (Lyons, 1965). The features between act and rule utilitarianism is therefore based on a difference about the proper object of considerable calculation. Act Utilitarianism will use the summary concept that is that a law is an abstract principle that a class of actions is good. The believers of rule Utilitarianism do not will to break the rules that are agreed upon by the majority. It thinks more of the long term goals (Hayry, 2002). Rule and Act Utilitarianism There are two forms of Utilitarianism. That is act Utilitarianism and other is rule Utilitarianism. They both are different and opposite from each other. Act Utilitarianism tells us that the basis of utility should be directly applied for each individual situation. In this, there is a point of view that the most happiness is for the greatest number of humans. The humans decide what to do after looking at that from where the most happiness is generated. In rule Utilitarianism it is told that what we should do to achieve the most wanted consequences and then the act that is seen is best for the majority is chosen (Lyons, 1965). In act Utilitarianism first the consequences are taken into sight of an act. The one with the better consequence is chosen. While the rule Utilitarianism looks at the consequence and then decide which rule to follow. Only that rule is selected that has the greatest utility or happiness whether the law is applied with fairness or not. Its aim is to deal people with fairness. It gives great value to justice. While in act Utilitarianism, it is to benefit the majority but sometimes the feelings are also hurt. Comparing Rule and Act Utilitarianism Rule and Act Utilitarianism have one thing similar that they are interlinked with the prediction of future however; it is also a fact that predictions are not always right. This can lead to abrupt results which does not benefit the people. As act Utilitarianism is mainly concerned with gaining more good. The rights of the individuals are violated for benefiting the majority. But sometimes it happens that the decision taken is good but at the same time, it is thought that it is not beneficial for the people. It is because of the things that are changed (Crisp, 1997). Rule Utilitarianism constrains its usefulness. Rule Utilitarian believes that the rules should be followed as they benefit the majority (Hayry, 2002). While in rule utilitarianism if we see that if a person is a lecturer at a same time, he runs his own business. Now he is having a very important business meeting that will benefit his workers too but at the same time, he has to give lecture to his students. There is no proper ethical answer for this situation. The act Utilitarian advice about ethical values but rule Utilitarian opposes it. Act and rule Utilitarian believe nothing. They just look at the way with the greatest utility. Criticisms in act utilitarianism view points to the difficulty of achieving full knowledge. There is a possibility to justify bad acts and laws using act utilitarianism. In rule utilitarianism, some criticisms arise that there is an argument that there is possibility to generate unjust rules according to principle of utility. There had been an argument that the rule utilitarianism cracked up into act utilitarianism, because for any given rule, in any of the case where breaking the rule produces more benefit, the rule can be clarified with the addition of a sub rule that can handle cases like the omission (Hayry, 2002). There is an example that clarifies easily between act and rule utilitarian. In rule utilitarianism, there is a law in country that stealing is wrong and nobody should do that. It is a rule and everyone should follow it. This will make everyone to stay without any tension as if the person does anything he will be punished. But if look at act utilitarianism, if the person is causing any harm to the society then he can be murdered as he is not safe for the society (Crisp, 1997). The two greatest proponents of utilitarianism as an ethical theory were Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Bentham and Mill is both Utilitarian but still their points of views differ from each other. They both follow different types of utilitarianism. James mill had a formula of Utilitarianism that is known as greatest happiness principle. It says that a person should always act to produce maximum happiness. He divides the happiness in to two categories that is higher and lower form of happiness. It has a basis that whoever has experienced both like to choose one over another. His belief is that the decisions are best if made on the basis of rules. When utilitarian principle is applied to business ethics, the cost benefit analysis is used.it means that companies will gain profit and customers will get quality products. When utilitarianism is used then all bad and good consequences are kept in sight. Decisions made in business should have positive aspects only. If we look at the situation for example there is a doctor and he has to look at a patient whose disease could not be cured and he does not know this, the difficulty which the doctor will find is to inform him that he is having a disease and his disease is incurable and he could also die. If the principles of the act utilitarian theory are observed, then definitely he won’t be informed about his disease. This is the most right thing do at that time because if the doctor will speak truth then it could cause the patient and his family with sadness. That lie could give him time to enjoy his life until his death caused by the disease. A believer of rule utilitarianism would not have any problem in telling the patient about his sickness. A rule utilitarian’s duty and aim is to always speak truth and be honest and not think about the situation which the patient or his family could face (West, 2004). Act and rule utilitarian believe that if there is an ethical decision then whether that is right for the society or not. Jeremy Bentham said that in act utilitarianism, it is useless to waste time on leisure activities. Instead of that, that time could be utilized in giving benefit to other people. Like social work and social services. Bentham had seven dimensions of pleasure or pain. These are intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity and extent. Intensity is referred to the potential of the experience. The duration tells that how long the experience lasts. Certainty relates to the choice. Propinquity tells that when will the experience going to happen. Fecundity tells whether the experience will give pleasure or pain. Purity refers whether the experience will give more pain or more pleasure. And at last, the extent tells about the number of population affected (Hayry, 2002). There is an acceptation in rule utilitarianism that there is a belief that actions done are right. It differentiates between the type of act and the circumstances in which the act occurs. It even differentiates between the types of pleasures (high or low). It also takes in account more than one situation and asserts that the law of benefiting other people maintains that a person should always do acts should only create the greater happiness for the majority (Crisp, 1997). Although the rule Utilitarian follows the rules but if there are two situations like not to kill someone is a law but for self-defense too, he can’t defend himself. In this situation, there is confusion. But then he decides what to do for his happiness. By carrying out rules, the rule utilitarian overcomes the problem that is faced by act utilitarianism. It is because it acknowledges more than one act itself. But this is not the case with act utilitarian (West, 2004). It only considers a single act and it ignores the chance of an action happening with the negative consequences. Rule utilitarianism not only looks at the present but it deeply concerns the future situation as well. It even allows adjusting the rules so that it maximizes the benefit for greater majority. In act utilitarianism, each act is acknowledged by its own consequences. It looks at the particular situation only. There is only one example action’s rightness is that it maximizes its benefits. Rule utilitarian is capable of making decisions but still they don’t do it or feel like doing it every time. On the other hand, the act utilitarian take decision but this takes time to make perfect decisions. In short if we can say that the rule utilitarianism sees justice as welfare. It is stated by the law whereas act utilitarianism sees justice for every single person’s responsibility. References Lyons, D. (1965). Forms and Limits of Utilitarianism. Oxford: Oxford University Press Crisp, R. (1997). Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Mill on Utilitarianism. London: Routledge West, H. (2004). An Introduction to Mills Utilitarian Ethics. UK: Cambridge University Press Hayry, M. (2002). Liberal Utilitarianism and Applied Ethics. London: Routledge Read More