Two-level utilitarianism

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Two-level utilitarianism is a utilitarian theory of ethics according to which a person's moral decisions should be based on a set of moral rules, except in certain rare situations where it is more appropriate to engage in a 'critical' level of moral reasoning. The theory was initially developed by R. M. Hare.[1]

Consequentialists believe that an action is right if it produces the best possible state of affairs.[2] Traditional utilitarianism (act utilitarianism) treats this as a claim that people should try to ensure that their actions maximizes the positive outcome for sentient beings.[3][4][5]

Two-level utilitarianism is virtually a synthesis of the opposing doctrines of act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism states that in all cases the morally right action is the one which produces the most well-being, whereas rule utilitarianism states that the morally right action is the one that is in accordance with a moral rule whose general observance would create the most well-being. In terms of two-level utilitarianism, act utilitarianism can be likened to the 'critical' level of moral thinking, while rule utilitarianism can be likened to the 'intuitive' level.[6]

  1. ^ McNaughton 1988, pp. 177
  2. ^ Beauchamp, Tom L. (1991). Philosophical ethics: an introduction to moral philosophy, (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill, 130.
  3. ^ Frederiksen, Claus Strue; Nielsen, Morten Ebbe Juul (2013). "Utilitarianism and CSR". Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer: 2643–2649. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-28036-8_614.
  4. ^ "Well-being". Understanding Utilitarianism. Acumen Publishing. 2007. pp. 61–92. ISBN 978-1-84465-089-7.
  5. ^ Mill, John Stuart. (1863). ‘Chapter 1’. In Utilitarianism. London: Longmans, Green and Company, 130.
  6. ^ Hare 1976, pp. 122–5