'Utilitarianism' definitions:
Definition of 'utilitarianism'
(from WordNet)
noun
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
Definition of 'Utilitarianism'
From: GCIDE
- Utilitarianism \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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 3. The doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness. [1913 Webster]