utilitarianism
noun
Forms utilitarianisms
- noun (philosophy) A system of ethics based on the premise that something's value may be measured by its usefulness.
- noun (philosophy) The theory that action should be directed toward achieving the "greatest happiness for the greatest number of people" (hedonistic universalism), or one of various related theories.
- noun Practicality, functionality, as opposed to e.g. aesthetics.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the end and aim of all social and political institutions.
- noun 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.
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “utilitarianism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details