Suppose a utilitarian judge decides to rule against a plaintiff in a lawsuit just because people in general would be happier if the plaintiff lost the case. Such a utilitarian move would conflict with
A) rule-utilitarianism.
B) commonsense views about happiness.
C) divine command theory.
D) commonsense views about justice.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rule-utilitarianism focuses on the utility of adhering to rules that generally promote the greatest good, but the scenario described does not necessarily conflict with rule-utilitarianism itself. The decision made by the judge, however, directly conflicts with commonsense views about justice, which typically hold that legal decisions should be based on fairness, legality, and the merits of the case, rather than the happiness of the general population.

Suppose a Utilitarian Judge Decides to Rule Against a Plaintiff