Act Utilitarianism (Bentham)
According to Bentham it is the correct course of action if it brings more people happiness than pain and each action is judged by applying the principle to separate action. This way people might use it as an excuse to justify wrongful and even criminal acts. If the best way to give most number of people happiness is by omitting the truth or going around the laws or rules, then it is acceptable in act utilitarianism.
Actions like stealing from the rich to give to the poor, lying to save the feelings of another person and cheating to get ahead are judged as single actions in act utilitarianism.
For example, if a driver is stopped at a checkpoint in a high traffic area and he does not have his registration or drivers license with him but the traffic police let him go (after taking some money from him), then the drivers in the cars in line behind him are happy, the driver himself is happy and the police officers are happy. This single action immediately brings the greatest amount of pleasure to the greatest number of people.
Actions like stealing from the rich to give to the poor, lying to save the feelings of another person and cheating to get ahead are judged as single actions in act utilitarianism.
For example, if a driver is stopped at a checkpoint in a high traffic area and he does not have his registration or drivers license with him but the traffic police let him go (after taking some money from him), then the drivers in the cars in line behind him are happy, the driver himself is happy and the police officers are happy. This single action immediately brings the greatest amount of pleasure to the greatest number of people.
Rule Utilitarianism (Mill)
Mill, while agreeing with some aspects of Bentham’s wanted to make a distinction so that immoral acts cannot be justified in anyway using his principle. He stated that moral rules were needed to establish social order and justice on the condition that if universally followed, they give the most number of people happiness. The principle is applied to a selection of a set of rules, which are in turn used to determine what to do in particular situations
Cheating and not taking action by accepting bribes as in the previous example for act utilitarianism, will lead to a very negative society and as such this is not acceptable in rule utilitarianism because the motives are questionable and they are not judged as single actions, but with harsh consequences in the long run if universally followed.
Cheating and not taking action by accepting bribes as in the previous example for act utilitarianism, will lead to a very negative society and as such this is not acceptable in rule utilitarianism because the motives are questionable and they are not judged as single actions, but with harsh consequences in the long run if universally followed.