Final answer:
Rule utilitarianism is the philosophy that evaluates an action's morality based on rules that promote the greatest overall utility, rather than examining individual situations. It focuses on following universal moral rules that aim to maximize happiness, differing from act utilitarianism which considers the unique circumstances of each act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The moral philosophy that evaluates the morality of an action based on principles or rules designed to promote the greatest overall utility, rather than by examining situations individually, is known as rule utilitarianism. Unlike act utilitarianism, which applies the greatest happiness principle on a case-by-case basis, rule utilitarianism proposes that people should follow moral rules that have been determined to maximize happiness if consistently applied. The approach is to promote the greatest overall utility by adhering to rules that have been tested and shown to yield positive outcomes when followed universally. This is opposed to evaluating each action for its unique circumstance, as is done in act utilitarianism.
Rule utilitarianism argues that by following a set of moral rules that are designed to produce the greatest happiness, we can avoid the pitfalls of constantly reevaluating actions in every different situation. These moral rules are meant to be adaptable, however, so they can be reevaluated and modified if it appears they no longer promote the greatest happiness. This flexibility stands in contrast to deontological approaches, like that of Kant, where moral laws are considered absolute and unchanging.
Ultimately, rule utilitarians believe that this method of establishing and following moral rules will ensure a more consistent and reliable means of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people, upholding the principle of utility, which is central to utilitarianism.