The Philosophical Foundations of Hare’s Utilitarianism

Hare’s utilitarianism, called "two-level" utilitarianism, blends practical judgment with moral theory. It suggests that in everyday life, we should follow common moral rules that generally promote happiness, but in complex situations, we need to analyze to see which actions maximize overall well-being. Philosophically, Hare emphasizes impartiality and rational assessment, asserting that morality should aim to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number. His approach balances intuitive moral principles with a rigorous, reasoned method for evaluating actions—maintaining that ethics should be both widely agreeable and thoughtfully justified.