Answer:
Rule utilitarianism and act utilitarianism are two different approaches to utilitarianism, which is a moral theory that states that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure and minimizes overall pain or suffering.
The main difference between rule utilitarianism and act utilitarianism is that rule utilitarianism focuses on the moral rightness of following certain rules or principles that maximize overall happiness, whereas act utilitarianism focuses on the moral rightness of individual actions that maximize overall happiness.
In rule utilitarianism, the moral rightness of an act is determined by whether it follows a rule or principle that maximizes overall happiness. For example, a rule utilitarian might argue that stealing is always wrong because it violates the principle of property rights, which is necessary for overall happiness.
In act utilitarianism, the moral rightness of an act is determined by whether it maximizes overall happiness in a particular situation. For example, an act utilitarian might argue that stealing is sometimes morally right if it results in greater overall happiness, such as stealing food to feed a starving family.
The advantage of rule utilitarianism is that it provides clear and consistent moral guidelines that can be followed in different situations. The advantage of act utilitarianism is that it allows for flexibility and context-specific decision-making.
The problem with rule utilitarianism is that it can lead to moral dilemmas when following a rule or principle does not result in the greatest overall happiness in a particular situation. The problem with act utilitarianism is that it can be difficult to predict the consequences of an action and may lead to unjust outcomes.
Rule utilitarianism creates moral dilemmas because it requires following rules or principles that may not always lead to the greatest overall happiness in a particular situation. For example, a rule against lying may lead to harm if telling the truth would result in greater overall happiness.
Dilemmas do not arise within act utilitarianism because it allows for flexibility and context-specific decision-making, which means that the moral rightness of an action is determined by its consequences in a particular situation. However, this can also lead to the problem of unpredictability and the potential for unjust outcomes.