utilitarianism

listen to the pronunciation of utilitarianism
İngilizce - İngilizce
A system of ethics based on the premise that something's value may be measured by its usefulness
the theory that action should be directed toward achieving the "greatest happiness for the greatest number of people"; hedonistic universalism
the ethical doctrine that actions are right because they are useful or of beneficial tendency
Utilitarianism is the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. the political belief that an action is good if it helps the largest number of people. Ethical principle according to which an action is right if it tends to maximize happiness, not only that of the agent but also of everyone affected. Thus, utilitarians focus on the consequences of an act rather than on its intrinsic nature or the motives of the agent (see consequentialism). Classical utilitarianism is hedonist, but values other than, or in addition to, pleasure (ideal utilitarianism) can be employed, or more neutrally, and in a version popular in economics anything can be regarded as valuable that appears as an object of rational or informed desire (preference utilitarianism). The test of utility maximization can also be applied directly to single acts (act utilitarianism), or to acts only indirectly through some other suitable object of moral assessment, such as rules of conduct (rule utilitarianism). Jeremy Bentham's Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789) and John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism (1863) are major statements of utilitarianism
in ethics, the theory that we should act in such a way that our actions produce the greatest happiness or pleasure
an ethical system by which one acts according to that which will result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people
Mill's perspective on teleological ethics in which ethical questions are decided on the amount of good generated by the decision Usually stated as: The greatest amount of measurable good for the greatest number of people
The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the end and aim of all social and political institutions
belief that the best society or government is one that provides the greatest good for the greatest number of individuals Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, and John Stuart Mill were all utilitarians
A school of thought, neutral as to ends, that holds that social cooperation, ethical precepts and governments are, or should be, merely useful means for helping the immense majority attain their chosen ends It holds that the ultimate standard of good or bad as to means is the desirability or undesirability of their effects It rejects the notions of human equality, of natural law, of government as an instrument to enforce the laws of God or Destiny; and of any social entity, such as society or the State, as an ultimate end It recommends popular government, private property, tolerance, freedom and equality under law not because they are natural or just but because they are beneficial to the general welfare HA 148,175-76; OG 50-51; TH 49, 55-61
A means of making decisions based on what is good for the greatest number of people
The political philosophy according to which the government should choose policies to maximize the total utility of everyone in society (pg 20)
the theory that action should be directed toward achieving the "greatest happiness for the greatest number of people"
The school of ethics according to which the utility of an action determines its moral status
Specifically, utilitarianism refers to the theory of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill that the overall utility or benefit produced by an action ought to be the standard by which we judge the worth or goodness of moral and legal action More generally, utilitarian principles can be seen in the arguments of the early social contract theorists: the idea that government was utilitarian in nature followed from their understanding of human nature as hedonistic, and bringing about government because they realize it is in their benefit See the social contract, "Promoting the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number," and instrumentalism
The doctrine that virtue is founded in utility, or that virtue is defined and enforced by its tendency to promote the highest happiness of the universe
the philosophy that somethings value may be measured by its usefulness
The doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness
is the practice of evaluating a decision against the criterion of its consequences for the majority of people
Doctrine whereby a particular action, law or institution is good if it increases the happiness of the community Applied to the environmental sphere, this doctrine means that the value of a resource is a function of the benefits gained from exploiting it
A moral philosophy concerned with maximising the greatest good for the greatest number of people p 758
An ethical framework which posits that all action should be directed toward achieving the greatest utility for the greatest number of people
{i} belief that usefulness is the basis of virtue and that decisions should be made according to what will be good for the greatest number of people
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
utilitarian
practical and functional, not just for show
utilitarian
having utility often to the exclusion of values; "plain utilitarian kitchenware
utilitarian
having utility often to the exclusion of values; "plain utilitarian kitchenware"
utilitarian
{i} one who ascribes to utilitarianism, one who maintains that practicality and usefulness is more important beauty or other considerations
utilitarian
Society works best when the majority chooses what will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people
utilitarian
of or relating to utility
utilitarian
Refers to a school of philosophy based on the ideas of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) The main principle involved was that private morality and government policy should be based on the concept of "general utility,"-the greatest good for the greatest number
utilitarian
someone who believes that the value of a thing depends on its utility having a useful function; "utilitarian steel tables"
utilitarian
someone who believes that the value of a thing depends on its utility having a useful function; "utilitarian steel tables" having utility often to the exclusion of values; "plain utilitarian kitchenware
utilitarian
Exemplifying or promoting the idea that all action should be aimed at accomplishing the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
utilitarian
Utilitarian means based on the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. It was James Mill who was the best publicist for utilitarian ideas on government. A utilitarian is someone with utilitarian views. One of the greatest utilitarians was Claude Helvetius
utilitarian
Of or pertaining to utilitarianism; supporting utilitarianism; as, the utilitarian view of morality; the Utilitarian Society
utilitarian
Utilitarian objects and buildings are designed to be useful rather than attractive. Bruce's office is a corner one, utilitarian and unglamorous. = functional
utilitarian
someone who practices or advocates utilitarianism
utilitarian
{s} practical, applicable, useful
utilitarian
someone who believes that the value of a thing depends on its utility
utilitarian
having a useful function; "utilitarian steel tables"
utilitarian
sometimes, reproachfully, evincing, or characterized by, a regard for utility of a lower kind, or marked by a sordid spirit; as, utilitarian narrowness; a utilitarian indifference to art
utilitarian
One who holds the doctrine of utilitarianism
utilitarian
a member of a religious sect founded on the worship of kitchen utensils
utilitarian
Of or pertaining to utility; consisting in utility; &?;iming at utility as distinguished from beauty, ornament, etc
utilitarianism