Utilitarianism maximizes happiness for the greatest number
Image: Clemens Schmillen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Utilitarianism maximizes happiness for the greatest number
Utilitarianism aims to maximize happiness for the greatest number of people. This principle guides actions and decisions to ensure the most favorable outcomes for the majority.
Example
A government policy that benefits the majority, even if it causes minor discomfort to a few, aligns with utilitarian principles.
Remember this
Understanding this concept helps evaluate moral decisions based on their impact on overall happiness.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism maximizes happiness for the greatest number
Immanuel Kant
Kant separates duty from inclination to determine moral worth
A Theory of Justice
Nozick's entitlement theory argues against Rawls — redistribution violates individual rights
Emmanuel Levinas
Levinas argues that ethics precedes knowledge
Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
Nietzsche developed his philosophy in the late 19th century
Moral nihilism
Moral nihilism asserts that nothing is morally right or wrong
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