Final answer:
Utilitarianism, championed by thinkers such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, is an ethical theory that determines the moral rectitude of an action based on whether it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. This consequentialist approach balances the wide-ranging effects of actions and has significantly influenced moral and legal standards through its focus on collective well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The moral rightness of an action is often assessed based on its consequences, a view held by consequentialists like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. They introduced utilitarianism, a normative ethical theory that posits the greatest good for the greatest number as the measure of an action's morality. They argued that an action is morally correct when it results in the greatest amount of happiness for the most people, considering the wide-ranging consequences of actions rather than individual benefits. This approach has important practical implications in areas such as clinical trials, where the balance between scientific aims and the interests of human subjects must be carefully weighed to avoid sacrificing the overall happiness for profit or private interests.
John Stuart Mill also introduced the harm principle to safeguard individual freedoms, indicating that actions should be limited only when they cause harm to others. This principle has become a cornerstone of modern liberal thought. Utilitarianism has, therefore, played a vital role in shaping moral and legal standards by emphasizing the importance of consequences and the happiness of all affected individuals.