Apply act-utilitarianism and rule-utilitarianism in resolving the following mora

Question

Apply act-utilitarianism and rule-utilitarianism in resolving the following moral problems. Do the two versions of utilitarianism lead to the same or different answers to the problems?

Jillian was aware of a recent company memo reminding employees that office supplies were for use at work only. Yet she knew that most of the other engineers in her division thought nothing about occasionally taking home notepads, pens, computer disks, and other office "incidentals." Her eight-year-old daughter had asked her for a company-inscribed ledger like the one she saw her carrying. The ledger costs less than $20, and Jillian recalls that she has probably used that much from her personal stationery supplies during the past year for work purposes. Is it all right for her to take home a ledger for her daughter without asking her supervisor for permission?

Explanation / Answer

According to Act utilitarianism, a A particular action is right if it is likely to produce the most good for the most people in a given situation, compared with alternative options available. Whereas, rule-utilitarianism states that right actions are those required by rules that produce the most good for the most people.

If we apply act utilitarianism the act of Jillian to take a ledger home for her daughter would be a right action. As not necessarily guided by any rule if the action produce most good to most people then it is right. Here, although rule prohibits it, taking ledger home is genuine as she has used her personal supplies for office work so she can afford to have a ledger for her daughter that would recompensate it.

But if we judge from the rule utilitarianism, then this act is worng. Jillian is very musch aware about the rule. The rule would have obviously made for getting best for most people, so if she is taking a ledger without asking, irrespective of her using her personal supplies for work, his act would be wrong.

Therefore it is true that the two versions of utilitarianism lead to the different answers to the problems.

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