Definition

1. Noun:
   • An ethical theory: Utilitarianism is a philosophical doctrine that judges the morality of actions based on their consequences. The central idea is that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good or happiness for the greatest number of people.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The policy was defended on the grounds of utilitarianism, as it aimed to benefit the majority of citizens.
  • In his essay, he argued against utilitarianism, claiming it could justify harming a minority.

Advanced Usage

• Act Utilitarianism: A form of utilitarianism that assesses the rightness or wrongness of each individual act by calculating its specific consequences.
  • An act utilitarian would judge each lie separately based on the happiness it produces.
• Rule Utilitarianism: A form of utilitarianism that assesses the rightness or wrongness of an act based on whether it conforms to a rule that, if generally followed, would lead to the greatest good.
  • A rule utilitarian might argue that we should follow the rule "do not lie" because widespread truth-telling creates the most happiness overall.

Variants and Related Words

• Utilitarian (adj): Relating to or adhering to the doctrine of utilitarianism; designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.
  • His approach to the problem was purely utilitarian.
• Utilitarian (n): A person who advocates or follows utilitarian principles.
  • The philosopher was a staunch utilitarian.

Synonyms

• Consequentialism: The broader class of ethical theories that judge actions by their outcomes, of which utilitarianism is a major type.
• Greatest Happiness Principle: A phrase often used to summarize the core tenet of classical utilitarianism.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• The greatest good for the greatest number: A common phrase summarizing the goal of utilitarian ethics.
  • The reform was enacted with the utilitarian ideal of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number.

Noun

1. doctrine that the useful is the good; especially as elaborated by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill; the aim was said to be the greatest happiness for the greatest number