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What are the critical and intuitive levels of moral thinking in R.M. Hare’s theory?

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Jeremy Bentham: auto-icon — Utilitarianism English philosopher and economist Jeremy Bentham's preserved skeleton in his own clothes and surmounted by a wax head, at University College London.

In his work Moral Thinking, R.M. Hare proposed a two-level framework for moral reasoning that integrates elements of both act- and rule-consequentialism.1

The Critical Level

At the critical level, individuals engage in deep moral reasoning to determine the principles that should govern their actions. This level involves evaluating hypothetical cases to identify the action that produces the best consequences. Hare argued that the correct answer at this level is always the one that maximizes the net balance of good consequences. However, this level is often impractical for everyday life because it requires complex calculations that are difficult to perform when one is hurried, emotional, or influenced by self-interest.1

The Intuitive Level

The intuitive level is the domain of everyday moral decision-making. Instead of performing exhaustive calculations, individuals act according to established moral principles—or "rules of thumb"—that they have learned and accepted as reliable guides for right and wrong. These principles are developed through critical thinking and are designed to be clear, brief, and effective for moral education. When applied by most people, these intuitive principles are expected to produce the best overall consequences, aligning closely with the wisdom of conventional morality.1