Which statement best describes act-utilitarianism?

• A. The rightness of an action depends solely on the relative good produced by that action.
• B. The right action is determined by whether it conforms to a rule that, if followed consistently, would create the most beneficial balance of good over bad for everyone.
• C. Moral judgments are grounded in a social contract among individuals for mutual advantage.
• D. Right actions are those that conform to moral standards discerned in nature.

Answer: (A)

Act-utilitarianism judges an action by its actual consequences for everyone affected. The right action is the one that produces the most overall good, as measured by the net balance of happiness and suffering resulting from that specific act. This focus on the outcome of the particular act, rather than on following rules, is what sets act-utilitarianism apart from rule-utilitarianism, which emphasizes conformity to rules that would yield the best overall balance if followed generally. It also differs from social contract theories, which ground morality in mutual agreements, and from natural-law theories, which appeal to intrinsic standards found in nature. So, the idea that the rightness of an action depends solely on the relative good produced by that action aligns with act-utilitarianism.