A council can fund one of two treatments, each costing its whole budget. A adds 100 healthy years; B adds 60. All other effects are equal. Using total healthy years as its measure of good, which should it fund?

• A, because 100 exceeds 60 on the chosen measure
• B, because fewer healthy years always cost less
• Either, because equal costs make the outcomes equal

According to act utilitarianism as taught here, what makes an action right?

• It follows an old tradition regardless of its effects on people
• It produces the greatest overall good for everyone affected
• It expresses a brave intention regardless of its effects on people

Under the utilitarian approach studied here, helping more people always produces the best total outcome, whatever the size of their benefits or harms.

A student says, 'Consequentialists need never consider intentions, because intentions can have no effects.' What needs correcting?

• Intentions can affect likely outcomes even though outcomes set the standard
• Intentions settle whether acts are right even when every consequence is identical
• Intentions turn harmful consequences into good ones whenever the aim was to help

Assume framing one innocent person would save twenty lives and produce the best overall outcome after every harm was counted. Which objection challenges that act-utilitarian verdict on grounds of justice?

• The verdict must favour punishment because twenty is greater than one
• The verdict cannot concern morality because it compares possible outcomes
• The person should not be punished for something they did not do

Why might rule utilitarianism support a rule against punishing innocent people?

• Following the rule removes any need to consider consequences
• Following the rule generally can protect trust and safety
• Following the rule gives every judge complete freedom to punish

A rule utilitarian sets a rule aside whenever a particular act seems to produce more good than following it. Critics say this returns to which method?

• Act utilitarianism, because each act's outcome again decides what to do
• Duty ethics, because each act must follow the rule whatever its outcome
• Virtue ethics, because each act is judged only by the character it expresses

Two plans cost the same and differ only in total healthy years added. A mayor chooses the smaller total only because it benefits her own street. Why would the impartial utilitarian approach object?

• A public budget should favour the mayor's street whenever the costs are equal
• A public budget should avoid any plan that benefits the mayor's neighbours
• Equal benefits count equally, whether recipients are neighbours or strangers