ule Utilitarianism is an offspring of Utilitarianism; however, instead of using the utilitarian principle to examine whether an action is ethical on an individual basis, Rule Utilitarianism uses this principle to formulate rules to govern society. Therefore, Rule Utilitarianism is a very realistic ethical theory. Modern society is not governed by one overriding principle, as Utilitarianism would suggest. Society is governed by rules, and Rule Utilitarianism would allow society to formulate rules with the greatest good for the greatest number in mind.Elliot Sober presents one objection to Utilitarianism in what he calls, "The Case of the Lonely Stranger." Sober presents a situation in which a sheriff in a town where a murder has occurred knows that the murderer is dead, and knows the town will riot soon if a suspect is not arrested. The sheriff also knows that the town will not believe him if he tells them that the murderer is dead. The sheriff is then presented with a stranger with no ties to anyone in the world, who is in town for no reason. The ethical question posed by Sober is whether or not the sheriff should frame the stranger and, in doing so, prevents a riot, even though he knows that the stranger is perfectly innocent? Sober criticizes Utilitarianism, because a utilitarian would say that framing the stranger provides peace for the entire town, and if he is not framed a bloody riot will lead to more than just one death, so he must be framed. Intuitively, framing an innocent man cannot be considered ethical. This statement is the precise reason that Rule Utilitarianism is a superior response. Framing an innocent man is not ethical, and a rule utilitarian would abide by the rule that framing an innocent man is not an ethical behavior. Therefore, even though in this particular instance the most good for the most people would be derived from framing the innocent man, a rule utilitarian would not allow the sheriff to do s...
