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the doctrine that the best measure or decision is the one that satisfies the majority of people
- Utilitarianism holds that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences, with the greatest good for the greatest number being the guiding principle.
- Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are among the most influential proponents of utilitarianism, advocating for a moral calculus based on the principle of utility.
- Critics of utilitarianism argue that it can lead to morally objectionable outcomes, such as sacrificing the rights or well-being of minorities for the greater good of the majority.
- Rule utilitarianism suggests that moral principles should be adopted based on their tendency to produce the greatest overall happiness when followed consistently.
- Utilitarianism is often applied in fields such as public policy, economics, and ethics, where decisions are made with the aim of maximizing social welfare or utility.