utilitarianism – מילון אנגלי-אנגלי
utilitarianism
n.
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
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is a theory in
normative ethics holding that the best moral action is the one that maximizes
utility. Utility is defined in various ways, but is usually related to the
well-being of
sentient entities. Originally,
Jeremy Bentham, the founder of Utilitarianism, defined utility as the aggregate pleasure after deducting suffering of all involved in any action.
John Stuart Mill expanded this concept of utility to include not only the quantity, but quality of pleasure, while focusing on rules, instead of individual moral actions. Others have rejected that pleasure has positive value and have advocated negative utilitarianism, which defines utility only in terms of suffering. As opposed to this
hedonistic view, some define utility with relation to
preference satisfaction whereas others believe that a range of values can be included in its definition.
utilitarianism
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
(hypernym) doctrine, philosophy, philosophical system, school of thought, ism
Utilitarianism
(n.)
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.
(n.)
The doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness.
(n.)
The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the end and aim of all social and political institutions.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
About
Utilitarianism
philosophy of Jeremy Bentham and followers (John S. Mill); the economy should be based on 'the greatest happiness for the greatest number'; it's a teleological theory - so there!