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Ethics and Values  /  Ethics 179  ·  Atom · ~20 seconds

The Collapse Problem

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The collapse problem: when breaking a good rule would maximize happiness, rule utilitarianism either allows the break — becoming act utilitarianism — or forbids it, serving rules instead of happiness.

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If this one merciful lie truly does most good, why keep the rule? Every answer betrays one utilitarian commitment or the other.