Utilitarianism is a theoretical idea about how we should evaluate a wide range of issues that involve decisions that individuals face daily. Some ideas that can be evaluated are actions, laws, policies, character traits, and moral codes. Utilitarianism is a system of consequentialism. Utilitarianism rests on the idea that utilitarianism is the penalties that results from actions, laws, policies. This determines whether these actions are good or bad, right or wrong. In utilitarianism, we need to choose the result that will produce maximizes utility. Utilitarianism was Originally verbalized by Jeremy Bentham in the 18th century, and then later developed by John Stewart Mill in the 19th. Utilitarianism proclaims that we should always …show more content…
An act utilitarian does not oversimplify the act but regards the act as a single action with a single outcome. They will have to consider the possible consequences each time they act. The rule utilitarianism is more practicable, refuting the anti-utilitarian argument that weighing each possible outcome each time is just not the way we want to spend our time. On the other hand, act utilitarian’s consider rule utilitarian’s somewhat dull-witted, for a smart person might think of them-self to be able to decide what to do without just applying rules time and time again. Also, blindly applying rules to specific situations can have unforeseen negative consequences that might have been averted by somebody who paid more …show more content…
An example: A rule utilitarian drives at night and sees a red light at an intersection. Thinking there would be a good consequence if people would stick to the rule and not cross the red light, so everyone is safe while waiting for a short while", they would apply that rule to them-self and wait for the light to turn green. Meanwhile, the act utilitarian might think "well, I certainly hope that people, who are not me, in general follow that rule and stay put, but as there is no one around who might get influenced by my act, since there's no police around to give me a ticket, and since I would see an approaching car, I might as well cross right now." The discussion and argument continue as long as people have different views on morality and the proper way to act in society. (Palmer, Daniel E. "On the Viability of a Rule Utilitarianism,