Philosophy
What is Utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that judges actions by their consequences: the right choice is the one that produces the greatest overall well-being or happiness for the most people. It is a leading form of consequentialist ethics.
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Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains utilitarianism.
Key things to understand
- 1An action is judged good if it maximizes total happiness or well-being and minimizes suffering.
- 2It's consequentialist — outcomes matter, not the action's intrinsic nature.
- 3Its founders include Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill in the 18th–19th centuries.
- 4A common criticism: it can seem to justify harming a few if it benefits the many.
- 5Its logic is widely used in policy and economics, where costs and benefits are weighed.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the main criticism of utilitarianism?
- That focusing only on total outcomes can justify unfair or harmful acts against individuals — like sacrificing one person to benefit many — clashing with ideas of rights and justice.
- How is utilitarianism used in real decisions?
- Its logic underlies cost-benefit analysis in public policy, healthcare resource allocation, and economics, where the aim is the greatest good for the greatest number.
- What's the difference between act and rule utilitarianism?
- Act utilitarianism judges each act by its consequences; rule utilitarianism follows rules that generally produce the best outcomes, even when breaking one might help in a specific case.