Rule Utilitarianism Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is an example of rule utilitarianism?

Traffic lights which create rules for drivers to follow to avoid chaos.

What does rule utilitarianism suggest?

Ethical rules and norms such as 'don't lie' and 'keep your promises'.

What are secondary principles in rule utilitarianism?

Principles that experience has shown tend to produce the greatest happiness.

What is one strength of rule utilitarianism?

It avoids the complex calculations required in act utilitarianism by following general rules. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a strong rule utilitarian?

They always follow secondary principles regardless of the outcome. Signup and view all the answers

What does a weak rule utilitarian believe?

Some secondary principles may be broken if it leads to a greater good. Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of how a strong and weak rule utilitarian would react in a situation involving a madman.

A strong rule utilitarian would reveal the hidden person, while a weak rule utilitarian would prioritize the person's safety. Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of strong rule utilitarianism?

It may lead to counter-intuitive actions that cause more harm than good. Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of weak rule utilitarianism?

It suggests making exceptions to rules to maximize utility, which undermines the rule-based approach. Signup and view all the answers

What is the concern regarding the collapse of rule utilitarianism into act utilitarianism?

Refining rules too much could lead to the complexities of act utilitarianism. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rule Utilitarianism Overview

Rule utilitarianism establishes ethical rules and norms, akin to "moral traffic lights," guiding behavior for better overall happiness.
Traffic lights serve as an illustration: their absence would create chaos, reinforcing the need for universal adherence to clear rules.

Function of Secondary Principles

Secondary principles are derived from experience, promoting actions that generally yield the greatest happiness.
Adherence to these principles is crucial, even if occasionally breaking them might seem to result in better outcomes (e.g., "Do not lie").

Strengths of Rule Utilitarianism

General rules provide a framework that mitigates issues present in act utilitarianism, simplifying moral decision-making.
Rule utilitarianism advocates for following established rules, as a consistent approach is believed to achieve the greatest good.

Strong vs. Weak Rule Utilitarianism

Strong Rule Utilitarian: Consistently adheres to secondary principles without exception, with moral value tied to rule-following.
Weak Rule Utilitarian: Accepts the breaking of secondary principles in exceptional situations if it leads to a greater good; moral value is based on the principle of utility.

Examples of Practical Application

In a scenario with a dangerous individual, a strong rule utilitarian would disclose a location, while a weak rule utilitarian would prioritize the victim's safety by withholding information.

Criticism of Strong Rule Utilitarianism

Rigid adherence to rules can lead to counter-intuitive outcomes, where following the rule might result in more harm than benefit.

Criticism of Weak Rule Utilitarianism

The necessity to evaluate exceptions to rules risks reverting to act utilitarianism, which is criticized for being impractical in moral deliberation.

Rule Collapse into Act Utilitarianism

The potential for constantly refining rules to maximize utility raises concerns that rule utilitarianism may devolve into act utilitarianism.
If rules require continuous adjustments to account for varying scenarios, it undermines the simplicity and efficacy that rule utilitarianism aims to offer.

Description

Explore the concept of rule utilitarianism through flashcards that provide examples and definitions. Understand how rules like traffic lights contribute to overall happiness and order in society. Perfect for students and those interested in ethics.