Rule-Consequentialism’s Essence and Rationale

Abstract Rule-consequentialism is a normative ethical theory with two basic ideas. The first idea is that whether acts are morally prohibited, morally required, or morally optional depends on justified rules. The second idea is that what justifies rules are the consequences of their being embedded as a shared public code. This chapter explains what rule-consequentialism holds. Then it identifies how rule-consequentialism differs from other consequentialist theories. Further clarification of rule-consequentialism is achieved by considering objections to this theory, such as objections concerning collapse, rule-worship, incoherence, and utopianism (excessive idealization). The chapter also considers arguments for rule-consequentialism, including arguments drawing on the divine command theory, consequentialism, contractualism, the search for reflective equilibrium, and the idea that morality is a social practice with a consequentialist purpose.