Rule utilitarianism

Rule utilitarianism (English, rule utilitarianism ') is a variant of the ethical position of utilitarianism. The rule utilitarianism will not apply the criterion of greatest general happiness on rules of action, but on concrete individual actions. The rule utilitarianism can therefore be seen as a response to criticisms of the act or Handlungsutilitarismus.

The problems of such a Handlungsutilitarismus (English, act utilitarianism ') demonstrated in the following example (after RBBrandt ): Mr. Miller has the 12 -year-old Fritz promised to give 10 euros when he mows his lawn. After the lawn is mowed, Mr. Müller asks a good utilitarian, whether there was equivalent to maximizing the general happiness, if he gives Fritz the promised money. Maybe he should donate the money to the charity Bread for the World ...

The procedure of Mr. Miller contradicts the usual moral intuitions. Regelutilitaristen as R. B. Brandt accept this criticism. They consider it inadmissible, a single act, which is the adherence to a utilitarian rule justified, in turn, to check again on their utilitarian justification. The single action ( that Mr. Müller Fritz the promised 10 € is ) is the rule ( " promise is one to make " ) justified, and only this rule is to justify utilitarian.

Other utilitarians see no reason for the rule utilitarianism. Follow in Bentham. This was the view that there is also a handlungsutilitaristische justification for the obligation to fulfill commitments entered into in any particular case. If someone did not fulfill his promise, then it is directed to a lot of damage, because he thus undermines the caring for trust and predictability Institute of the promise and the contract for the entire society. He also pity his reputation as a reliable partner and therefore its own interests.

The rule utilitarianism can be seen as a response to the criticism that the Handlungsutilitarismus Bentham was an ethic of the majority. The Handlungsutilitarismus could this critique into minority discrimination to if they have a total of a tendency to promote the happiness of all aggregated individual, the happiness of society. The rule utilitarianism can, in contrast, minority discrimination morally not apply insofar as it calls for action rules which must be strictly adhered to by all individuals.