Act and Rule Utilitarianism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Act and Rule Utilitarianism - Essay Example Act utilitarianism focuses on the specific act that will bring that good in the end. However, according to the rule utilitarian, this is improbable or even impossible. This begs the question: How does one determine if an act will produce a specific good This is where rule utilitarianism comes into the picture. One first determines what are the rules that if generally followed will produce the best results. The rule utilitarian does not focus on finding the specific act that will produce the best results since any act in accordance to that rule will produce a good.Thus, rule utilitarianism is more acceptable. An act in accordance with rule utilitarianism may or may not appeal to the act utilitarian, but this is better than trying in vain to find out what is that specific act the act utilitarian will accept.Whichever form one may choose, both cannot escape the criticisms against utilitarianism that one may lie, steal, or kill just to enact that which is good. In other words, the end ju stifies the means.