Utilitarianism, what is it:

Utilitarianism, what is it:

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on maximizing overall happiness or well-being. It is based on the principle that the right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

The most well-known utilitarian philosophers are Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Bentham proposed a “calculus of pleasure and pain” to determine moral actions, while Mill refined the theory by emphasizing qualitative differences in pleasures — arguing that intellectual and moral pleasures are superior to purely physical ones.

Key Aspects of Utilitarianism:

1. Consequentialism — The morality of an action is determined by its outcomes, not intentions.
2. Hedonism — Pleasure (or happiness) is the ultimate good.
3. Impartiality — Everyone’s happiness is equally important.

There are different types of utilitarianism:

• Act Utilitarianism — Each action is judged individually by its consequences.
• Rule Utilitarianism — Moral rules are created based on which rules generally produce the most good.

It is often criticized for potentially justifying morally questionable actions if they lead to greater overall happiness, such as sacrificing an innocent person for the greater good.

Shervan K Shahhian