---
title: "Act Utilitarianism: Ethics for UPSC GS4 | Model Diplomat"
description: "Act utilitarianism judges each individual act by its consequences, not by rules. See how it differs from rule utilitarianism and why UPSC GS4 tests it."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/act-utilitarianism"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Act utilitarianism is the moral theory holding that an action is right if and only if it produces the greatest balance of good over harm of any available act in that situation.
- How does act utilitarianism differ from rule utilitarianism?
- Why is act utilitarianism criticised for permitting injustice?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Act utilitarianism is the moral theory holding that an action is right if and only if it produces the greatest balance of good over harm of any available act in that situation.

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In his 1972 essay "Famine, Affluence, and Morality," philosopher Peter Singer applied act-utilitarian reasoning to the Bengal refugee crisis, arguing that affluent individuals are morally obliged to donate to famine relief whenever the welfare gained exceeds their own sacrifice.

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