Utilitarianism is defined as which principle?

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Multiple Choice

Utilitarianism is defined as which principle?

Utilitarianism evaluates actions by their consequences with the aim of increasing overall well-being. The best way to express this is the principle of producing the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. This captures the idea that right actions are those that maximize overall welfare. The other statements describe different ideas: punishment for its own sake is about retribution, not about maximizing happiness; the withdrawal of rights for the common good suggests sacrificing rights, which isn’t the defining claim of utilitarianism; and the notion that ends justify the means is a broad way of describing consequentialist thinking but does not pin down the specific focus on happiness or welfare.

Utilitarianism evaluates actions by their consequences with the aim of increasing overall well-being. The best way to express this is the principle of producing the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. This captures the idea that right actions are those that maximize overall welfare.

The other statements describe different ideas: punishment for its own sake is about retribution, not about maximizing happiness; the withdrawal of rights for the common good suggests sacrificing rights, which isn’t the defining claim of utilitarianism; and the notion that ends justify the means is a broad way of describing consequentialist thinking but does not pin down the specific focus on happiness or welfare.

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