Preference utilitarianism and classical utilitarianism are both ways of thinking about the outcomes of our actions. They belong to a bigger category called consequentialism. However, they have some key differences that matter when making moral choices.

1. What They Focus On:

   • Classical utilitarianism is mainly about getting the most happiness or pleasure for everyone. It’s like a counting game—more happiness is always better.
   • Preference utilitarianism cares more about what people want. It’s about meeting individual desires rather than just trying to create overall happiness.

2. Moral Choices:

   • Classical utilitarianism might allow actions that hurt a small group if it helps a larger group. This idea is known as "the greater good."
   • Preference utilitarianism is more about respecting each person's choices. This means it tries to protect the rights of smaller groups.

3. How We Decide:

   • Preference utilitarianism often requires deep thinking about different people's wants, which can make making ethical decisions tougher. In contrast, classical utilitarianism has a simpler way to measure happiness.

In summary, these differences really change how we think about and make ethical decisions in everyday life.