Mauritian is confused about literature and philosophy

• Doctrine that the useful is the good
• Especially as elaborated by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. doctrine that the useful is the good; especially as elaborated by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill; the aim was said to be the greatest happiness for the greatest number

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. 1 (context philosophy English) A system of ethics based on the premise that something's value may be measured by its usefulness. 2 (context philosophy English) the theory that action should be directed toward achieving the "greatest happiness for the ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Utilitarianism \U*til`i*ta"ri*an*ism\, n. The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the end and aim of all social and political institutions. --Bentham. The doctrine that virtue is founded in utility, or that virtue is defined ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1827, from utilitarian + -ism . The doctrine that the end of all action should be the greatest happiness of the greatest number.

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
John Stuart Mill 's book Utilitarianism is a classic exposition and defence of utilitarianism in ethics. The essay first appeared as a series of three articles published in Fraser's Magazine in 1861; the articles were collected and reprinted as a single ...

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Word definitions in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
noun EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS ▪ If utilitarianism has no way of making equity matter, it does not follow that equity is unimportant or insignificant. ▪ In effect, the Fabians skewed utilitarianism in favour of the principle of social solidarity. ▪ In this connection ...