utilitarianism
Meaning
the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority; the doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct.
Structure
Usage
jeremy bentham is considered one of the founding fathers of utilitarianism.
the politician's decision was heavily criticized for its apparent lack of utilitarianism.
in its simplest form, utilitarianism advocates for the greatest good for the greatest number.
Etymology
The term utilitarianism is a modern philosophical construct, built upon the Latin root utilitas, meaning 'usefulness' or 'benefit'. This root itself derives from utilis ('useful'), which is connected to the verb uti ('to use'). The suffix '-arian' was appended to form 'utilitarian', denoting an adherent to the principle of utility. Finally, the abstract noun-forming suffix '-ism' was added in the 18th century to create the name of the ethical doctrine itself, systematically encapsulating the theory that the moral worth of an action is determined by its contribution to overall utility or happiness.
Analysis
utilit(y) (from latin utilitas, meaning 'usefulness'); arian (a suffix forming nouns meaning 'a person who supports or believes in a particular doctrine'); ism (a suffix forming nouns meaning 'a distinctive doctrine, theory, or system').