🤔intro to philosophy review

key term - Act Utilitarianism

Definition

Act utilitarianism is a moral theory that states the rightness or wrongness of an action should be judged solely by its consequences - specifically, its ability to maximize overall happiness or well-being. It focuses on the outcomes of individual actions rather than on adherence to moral rules or principles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Act utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of individual actions rather than on adherence to moral rules or principles.
  2. Act utilitarians believe the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest good or well-being for the greatest number of people.
  3. Act utilitarianism is distinct from rule utilitarianism, which judges the morality of an action based on whether it conforms to a rule that, if generally followed, would lead to the greatest good.
  4. Act utilitarians must carefully weigh the potential positive and negative consequences of each action to determine the course that will maximize overall happiness and well-being.
  5. Critics of act utilitarianism argue that it can lead to the violation of individual rights and that it is difficult to accurately predict and measure the consequences of actions.

Review Questions

  • Explain how act utilitarianism differs from other forms of utilitarianism, such as rule utilitarianism.
    • Act utilitarianism differs from rule utilitarianism in its focus on the consequences of individual actions rather than on adherence to moral rules or principles. While rule utilitarianism judges the morality of an action based on whether it conforms to a rule that, if generally followed, would lead to the greatest good, act utilitarianism evaluates the rightness or wrongness of an action solely by its ability to maximize overall happiness or well-being. Act utilitarians must carefully weigh the potential positive and negative consequences of each action to determine the course that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
  • Analyze the potential strengths and weaknesses of act utilitarianism as an ethical framework.
    • A potential strength of act utilitarianism is its focus on the consequences of actions rather than on rigid adherence to moral rules or principles. This allows for a more flexible and nuanced approach to ethical decision-making, as act utilitarians can carefully weigh the potential positive and negative outcomes of each action. However, a key weakness of act utilitarianism is that it can lead to the violation of individual rights if doing so would maximize overall happiness or well-being. Additionally, it can be challenging for act utilitarians to accurately predict and measure the consequences of their actions, which can lead to unintended negative outcomes. Overall, act utilitarianism provides a framework for ethical decision-making, but it must be balanced with other moral considerations to avoid potential pitfalls.
  • Evaluate how act utilitarianism relates to the broader concept of consequentialism in moral philosophy.
    • Act utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism, the ethical theory that the consequences of one's actions are the ultimate foundation and measure of the morality of an action. Act utilitarianism takes this a step further by judging the rightness or wrongness of an action solely by its ability to maximize overall happiness or well-being. This focus on outcomes rather than adherence to moral rules or principles is a key tenet of consequentialism. However, act utilitarianism differs from other consequentialist theories in its specific emphasis on maximizing happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people. The relationship between act utilitarianism and consequentialism highlights the broader philosophical debate over whether the morality of an action should be evaluated based on its results or on the principles and intentions underlying it.

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