part 1
What, exactly, is ACT UTILITARIANISM? How does it work? What strengths and weaknesses does it have?
Act Utilitarianism treats all individuals impartially and concentrates on overall affects. It treats all choices in the respect of which choice has the greater overall utility and to determine which choice is morally right. It takes into account the aspect of scope, duration, intensity and probability. Some of the strengths would include its objectivity, impartiality, extremely simple, flexibility, and includes some nonhumans. The weaknesses include problems with calculation, moral saints, moral permissiveness objection, justice and human rights objection.
I think the major weakness is calculation. How do you calculate someone's pain or grief? Then being a moral saint would just be exhausting, always thinking about the greater good and following through with what is the best situation for all involved and not just for me and my immediate family or co-workers etc.
part 2
What is HEDONISM, and why do you think it succeeds/fails as the basic of morality?
From what I read in the assigned reading, the persuasion believe that happiness and or pleasure is the only thing that has fundamental value or utility.
In other words, it is the belief of a person or people to seek happiness and satisfaction for themselves at all cost. In my opinion, hedonism is a selfish act. The person is not thinking about the consequences of their actions, just as long as the action satisfies their needs wants, and desires.
I do not feel that morally, this way of thinking and being succeed, because a lot of people can be hurt by that selfish person but, on the other hand for the people that are happy and get the outcome that they desired, it was, is and will be a success.