CultureAugust 15, 2026
utilitarianism
yoo-TIL-ih-TAIR-ee-uh-niz-um
Definition
A moral philosophy that identifies the most ethical choice as the one that results in the greatest good for the greatest number of people, often focused on minimizing suffering.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'utilitas,' meaning 'usefulness' or 'benefit.' The term was popularized in the 19th century by philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill to describe the ethical theory based on maximizing overall utility.
In the news
The article describes utilitarianism as the foundation of Peter Singer’s ethical framework, explaining how his work on animal rights and effective altruism is driven by this principle.
Peter Singer: ‘Capitalism is still the most productive economic system that ever existed’
Read the full article ↗The Guardian