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utilitarian

utilitarian

1 7.9
A person who thinks right actions make the most people happy
  • noun
  • /ˌjuːtɪlɪˈtɛriən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : utilitarista
  • The people who say yes would fall under what we call consequentialist or utilitarian moral philosophy.

And so Emma, I'm not saying be a, a complete utilitarian here.

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Examples

  • It's not going to blow you away, but this is a utilitarian decision.

  • And so, OK, So what if it's the case that living as a utilitarian is wrong by a utilitarian standard?

  • So the measure for the utilitarian is that balance of utility or balance of happiness.

  • A utilitarian such as Nielsen might argue that if these actions serve some further purpose, then they are justifiable.

    Academic text (2002)
  • At the end of Dickens's Hard Times, Mr. Gradgrind, the utilitarian, is forced into understanding that his system of education has produced nothing but misery for himself and his family.

    Academic text (2001)
  • As a utilitarian, she believes that the best actions are those that maximize overall happiness.

  • He identifies as a utilitarian, focusing on practical outcomes rather than abstract principles.

  • The discussion centered on how a utilitarian perspective can guide ethical decision-making in society.

Synonyms

consequentialist
vsutilitarian
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A person who thinks an action is right if it produces good results

focuses on usefulness or practical value rather than moral outcomes

Antonyms

33 5.0

A person who follows strong beliefs rather than practical needs

7 4.6

A person guided more by feelings and imagination than by practical needs

Surface Forms

utilitarian singular
utilitarians plural

Etymology

Utilitarian comes from the word utility, meaning 'usefulness', and a utilitarian person believes actions are right when they bring the most happiness to the most people.