Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a philosophical and ethical theory that proposes that the best action is the one that maximizes utility. This is often defined in terms of the well-being of sentient entities. Originally, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill defined utility as the aggregate pleasure after deducting suffering of all involved in any action.

History

Utilitarianism is a version of consequentialism, which states that the consequences of any action are the only standard of right and wrong. This view can be contrasted or combined with seeing intentions, virtues or the compliance with rules as ethically important. Besides, utilitarianism can be characterized by agent-neutrality or agent-relativity.

Theory

The classical utilitarianism of Bentham, Mill and Sidgwick, and the more recent preference utilitarianism of Peter Singer and Richard Brandt differs from other forms of consequentialism by its patient-centeredness, welfare-centeredness, consequentialism, and maximizing utility.

Criticism

Utilitarianism's assertion that well-being is the only thing with intrinsic moral value has been attacked from many directions. Some critics reject utilitarianism, arguing that our intuitions regarding justice, rights, and desert, are incompatible with it.

See also

• Consequentialism
• Ethics
• Philosophy
• Jeremy Bentham
• John Stuart Mill
• Peter Singer
• Richard Brandt

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