What is act vs rule utilitarianism

Act utilitarianism is a type of utilitarianism that judges individual actions based on their ability to maximize overall happiness or pleasure. This means that an act is morally right if it results in the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Rule utilitarianism, on the other hand, judges actions based on whether they follow a set of rules that, when consistently applied, maximize overall happiness or pleasure. This means that a rule is morally right if it leads to the greatest good for the greatest number of people when applied in similar circumstances.

In summary, act utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of individual actions, while rule utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of following certain rules.