Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism’s consequentialist theory’s foundation bases its judgment only on the consequences of the action. According to John Stuart Mill, the basic principle of utility or “the greatest happiness principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (MacKinnon & Fiala, 2015, p. 104). These actions are judged by the extent to which they produce happiness or avoid unhappiness for all. A morally right action would be one that produces or tends to produce happiness without pain and ultimately be the desired result of all actions. A morally wrong action would be one that brings pain or denies pleasure. One may endure pain through a particular act, but if the results end in happiness or the absence of pain then the action is morally right. The principle or act will not to be individually measured, but, measured for all
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Act utilitarianism solely considers the consequences of the individual act, while rule utilitarianism examines the consequences of acts as a general practice of what society ought to do. To follow rule utilitarianism when a person or group evaluates a moral choice means they would choose the rule that brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. For example, a doctor was under the influence of illegal drugs yesterday, although he did not cause any patients harm yesterday and he experienced a great deal of pleasure (act utilitarianism), the likely consequences (rule utilitarianism) indicate he would cause harm to one or more patients while under the influence of illegal drugs making the act ethically wrong.
To further clarify, the general principle of utilitarianism is the greatest happiness rule, and this absolute rule has no exceptions. There are specific rules people ought to follow. Some exceptions to specific rules exist, if not following the rule would bring a greater amount of happiness. Such as,
Act utilitarianism solely considers the consequences of the individual act, while rule utilitarianism examines the consequences of acts as a general practice of what society ought to do. To follow rule utilitarianism when a person or group evaluates a moral choice means they would choose the rule that brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. For example, a doctor was under the influence of illegal drugs yesterday, although he did not cause any patients harm yesterday and he experienced a great deal of pleasure (act utilitarianism), the likely consequences (rule utilitarianism) indicate he would cause harm to one or more patients while under the influence of illegal drugs making the act ethically wrong.
To further clarify, the general principle of utilitarianism is the greatest happiness rule, and this absolute rule has no exceptions. There are specific rules people ought to follow. Some exceptions to specific rules exist, if not following the rule would bring a greater amount of happiness. Such as,