Definitions for: Utilitarianism

[n] 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

Webster (1913) Definition: U*til`i*ta"ri*an*ism, n.
1. The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest
number should be the end and aim of all social and
political institutions. --Bentham.

2. 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. --J. S. Mill.

3. The doctrine that utility is the sole standard of
morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined
by its usefulness.

See Also: doctrine, ism, philosophy, school of thought

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