Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that holds that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure, as summed among all sentient beings. It differs from other laissez-faire philosophies, such as classical liberalism, in that it suggests that government should take an active role in promoting the general welfare and in ensuring that the actions of individuals and businesses are in line with the greater good.
Classical liberalism, on the other hand, is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom and limited government intervention in economic affairs. It holds that the role of government should be minimal and that individuals should be free to pursue their own self-interest without interference from the state.
While both utilitarianism and classical liberalism advocate for limited government intervention, utilitarianism supports government intervention in certain situations where it is deemed necessary to promote the general welfare, while classical liberalism advocates for minimal government intervention in all situations.
In summary
Utilitarianism differs from other laissez-faire philosophies such as classical liberalism in that it advocates for government intervention in certain situations to promote the general welfare, while classical liberalism advocates for minimal government intervention at all times.