Utilitarian: meaning, definitions and examples
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utilitarian
[ juːˌtɪl.ɪˈteə.ri.ən ]
ethical theory
relating to or adhering to the ethical theory that the value of a thing or an action is determined by its utility
Synonyms
effective, functional, practical
Examples of usage
- Utilitarian ethics focus on maximizing overall happiness.
- The utilitarian approach to decision-making considers the consequences for the greatest number of people.
philosophy
a person who believes in or practices utilitarianism
Synonyms
pragmatist, rationalist, realist
Examples of usage
- The utilitarian argued that the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome.
- Utilitarians prioritize the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Translations
Translations of the word "utilitarian" in other languages:
🇵🇹 utilitário
🇮🇳 उपयोगितावादी
🇩🇪 utilitaristisch
🇮🇩 utilitarian
🇺🇦 утилітарний
🇵🇱 utylitarny
🇯🇵 功利主義的 (こうりしゅぎてき)
🇫🇷 utilitariste
🇪🇸 utilitarista
🇹🇷 faydacı
🇰🇷 공리주의의
🇸🇦 نَفْعِيّ
🇨🇿 utilitární
🇸🇰 utilitárny
🇨🇳 功利主义的 (gōng lì zhǔ yì de)
🇸🇮 utilitaren
🇮🇸 nytjahyggjumaður
🇰🇿 утилитарлық
🇬🇪 უტილიტარისტული
🇦🇿 utilitarist
🇲🇽 utilitarista
Etymology
The term 'utilitarian' originated in the late 18th century, deriving from the word 'utility' which refers to the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial. Utilitarianism as a philosophical concept was developed by Jeremy Bentham and later expanded upon by John Stuart Mill. It emphasizes the importance of maximizing overall happiness or utility in decision-making, focusing on the consequences of actions rather than abstract principles.
See also: reutilization, reutilize, underutilization, underutilize, unutilized, utilization, utilized, utilizer, utilizing.