Political Memes

Try not to ask such loaded questions. You're better than that. I know you can do better.

Again, act utilitarianism vs rule utilitarianism. Rule utilitarianism is what our laws use. You're using act utilitarianism, which has a much poorer track record. A rule utilitarian would say, "we need a hard and fast rule that genocide is wrong. Anyone who supports genocide is a criminal that deserves zero support and respect. This rule creates the greatest good for the greatest number over time." An act utilitarian says, "this genocide may be OK, if it's the lesser evil. If I can convince myself it's on net positive, then it's the moral thing to do."

Our laws use rule utilitarianism. You're not allowed to argue in court that murdering a guy was a net positive to the world. We instead say, "banning all murders will result in the greatest good for the greatest number, so we'll outlaw all murders."

You can have two systems that each try to optimize for the greatest good to the greatest number. Rule utilitarians create bright rules that on net, over time, result in the greatest good for the greatest number and avoid the temptation to justify horrible acts by arguing for the greater good. Act utilitarians try to judge each act individually, ignoring a lot of the context and pretending that this act exists in complete isolation from all acts before and after.

Act utilitarianism is literally the moral philosophy of the Holocaust.