Act Utilitarianism defines an action as morally right if it produces at least as much happiness as any alternative action available at that moment. This statement best describes which ethical theory?

Act Utilitarianism defines an action as morally right if it produces at least as much happiness as any alternative action available at that moment. This statement best describes which ethical theory?

• A. Act Utilitarianism
• B. Deontology
• C. Care Ethics
• D. Virtue Ethics

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is judging the rightness of an action by its consequences and choosing the option that yields the most happiness compared to other actions available in that moment. This approach fits act utilitarianism, which says an action is morally right if it produces at least as much happiness as any alternative action in the given situation. Deontology would base rightness on duties or rules regardless of outcomes, not on happiness totals. Care Ethics emphasizes responding to the needs of others within relationships rather than calculating overall happiness. Virtue Ethics focuses on the actor’s character and flourishing rather than the specific consequences of one action.

The key idea here is judging the rightness of an action by its consequences and choosing the option that yields the most happiness compared to other actions available in that moment. This approach fits act utilitarianism, which says an action is morally right if it produces at least as much happiness as any alternative action in the given situation.

Deontology would base rightness on duties or rules regardless of outcomes, not on happiness totals. Care Ethics emphasizes responding to the needs of others within relationships rather than calculating overall happiness. Virtue Ethics focuses on the actor’s character and flourishing rather than the specific consequences of one action.