Final answer:
Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that holds that actions are moral if they produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Act utilitarianism applies the greatest happiness principle on a case-by-case basis, while rule utilitarianism focuses on establishing moral rules that maximize happiness. Hedonism, being hedonistic, bases its moral theory on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that holds that an action is moral if it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It is a consequentialist theory developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Utilitarian's argue that the rightness of an action is determined by its consequences and that actions are right if they lead to the greatest benefit for the greatest number.
Act utilitarianism is a utilitarian approach that proposes that people should apply the greatest happiness principle on a case-by-case basis. It argues that morality requires us to maximize the good every time we act, considering factors such as intensity, duration, certainty, and extent of pleasure or pain.
Hedonism is a psychological state of mind that is intrinsically good, and utilitarianism, being hedonistic, bases its moral theory on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. It evaluates actions based on their impact on pleasure and pain and believes that an action is moral if it leads to the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people.
Rule utilitarianism, on the other hand, proposes that people should use the greatest happiness principle to test possible moral rules and determine whether a given rule would produce greater happiness if followed. It focuses on establishing a set of moral rules that, when followed, will maximize happiness.