Introducing Variable-Rate Rule-Utilitarianism

Dados Bibliográficos

ID10691547
AutoresMartin Ridge (0000-0003-0915-7285, University of Edinburgh, autor correspondente), Michael Ridge
Ano2006
Volume56
Fascículo223
Páginas242-253
Data de publicação2006-04-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Philosophical Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0031-8094 • E-ISSN: 1467-9213
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-9213.2006.00440.x
OpenAlexW1991135682
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas29

The basic idea of rule‐utilitarianism is that right action should be defined in terms of what would be required by rules which would maximize either actual or expected utility if those rules gained general acceptance, or perhaps general compliance. Rule‐utilitarians face a dilemma. They must characterize ‘general acceptance’ either as 100% acceptance, or as something less. On the first horn of the dilemma, rule‐utilitarianism is vulnerable to the charge of utopianism; on the second, it is open to the charge of arbitrariness and lack of philosophical depth. I press this objection, and develop and defend an alternative version of rule‐utilitarianism which can evade the dilemma. I call this new version ‘variable‐rate rule‐utilitarianism’

Action (physics) · Dilemma · Economics · Epistemology · Face (sociological concept) · Law and economics · Linguistics · Mathematical economics · Prisoner's dilemma · Utilitarianism · Variable (mathematics) · Mathematics · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics