Final answer:
The ethical position that bases decisions on outcomes or consequences is consequentialism, specifically utilitarianism when emphasizing happiness. Philosophers like Bentham and Mill contributed to this theory, which aims to produce the greatest good for the greatest number.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ethical position in which decisions are made solely on the basis of their outcomes or consequences is consequentialism. This moral theory assesses the rightness of actions by looking at their outcomes, with the central notion that an action is morally right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number. Consequentialist theories include utilitarianism, which was notably advanced by philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, focusing on happiness and well-being as the criteria for determining the morality of actions.
As utilitarianism is a type of consequentialism, it specifically holds that an action's consequences are central to its moral evaluation, with the ultimate goal of maximizing happiness and minimizing pain. It emphasizes the balance of benefit and harm, and decisions are often judged by how well they achieve this objective. Utilitarian considerations can play a role in various contexts, such as clinical trials, where the interests of human subjects must be weighed against research goals and potential outcomes.