Question

What does it mean to say that consequentialist theories are optimific? What is the principle of utility?   What is the difference between act utility and ethics egoism? Describe what must be considered in any moral choice based on act utilitarianism. What is the difference between act utility and rule utility (or rule consequentialism). Give an example to show how each form of utility would decide the right thing to do. Explain why some critics believe injustice is a central flaw of act utilitarian.

Answer 1

1. Consequentialist theories are optimific as the define morality in terms of the actions that yield the greatest balance of benefits over drawbacks. These theories focus on producing the best outcome for the largest number of people.

2. The principle of utility states that an action is morally warranted when it does more to improve overall well-being than any other action one could have done in the circumstances.

3. In order to illustrate how act utilitarianism functions, we can compare the consequences of watching television series all day tomorrow to the consequences of doing charity work tomorrow. Charity would produce more overall happiness in the world by than watching television series. According to act utilitarianism, then, the morally right thing to do tomorrow is to go out and do charity work.

4. Act utilitarianism states that an individual’s act is morally right if and only if it produces the best possible results in that specific situation. On the other hand, ethical egoism states that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest.

Please post the other questions separately as we are supposed to answer just question or four sub parts of a question.