Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Bentham developed a hedonistic calculus; Mill refined it to accommodate higher and lower pleasures and a robust account of individual liberty. Sidgwick gave it its most systematic formulation. As the dominant tradition in Anglo-American ethics and public policy, it continues to shape debates on welfare, justice, and the obligations of the state.