Normen-, Institutionen-, Motivutilitarismus

This article focuses on the third part of a comprehensive utilitarian theory: the theory of moral imperatives (deontology) and the realisation of moral values. It analyses the problems associated with the most significant theory in this field, act utilitarianism (‘always do what is best in utilitarian terms!’). It then examines the extent to which alternative systems (F-utilitarianisms) to act utilitarianism resolve these problems: ideal and real rule utilitarianism, conscience- or motive utilitarianism, virtue utilitarianism, institutional utilitarianism, progressive norm utilitarianism, global and scalar utilitarianism. Only progressive real norm utilitarianism resolves all these problems. However, the diversity of F-utilitarianisms points beyond a theory of moral imperatives to a general theory of the realisation of moral values, which employs all F-instruments and more.