ABSTRACT
Not every time we act on a general view about what ought to be done are we being guided by a rule. Consider Jim, who hates alcohol so much, that he knows never to order it when in a bar. By acting on this general judgment, Jim is not thereby following an abstention rule; he has no need for such a rule given his natural aversion. We might say that as a rule, Jim does not drink. But this simply means that Jim does not usually drink alcohol, which is not the same as saying that he is being guided by a rule to that effect. John, on the other hand, is a recovering alcoholic and has committed himself not to drink alcohol ever again. In such a case, it makes sense to talk of rule-guidance. If asked why he ordered a Diet Coke instead of beer, he might say: “I have a strict rule against drinking alcohol – I never touch the stuff.”
