Final answer:
Utilitarianism, the correct answer to the student's question, is an ethical framework that suggests the morality of an action is determined by its consequences, specifically the extent to which it produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept in the question refers to an ethical theory known as Utilitarianism, which is a consequentialist approach. Utilitarianism posits that moral behaviors are those that produce the greatest good for the greatest number. Developed by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, this approach calls for actions that maximize happiness or the general welfare of society. While deontological ethics consult duties or rules to determine right actions and virtue ethics focuses on the cultivation of good character traits, utilitarianism uniquely concentrates on the outcomes or consequences of actions—a process often associated with calculating the overall benefit or happiness resulting from those actions.
The ethical concept in question is identified as c. Utilitarian due to its focus on consequences and the maximization of well-being for the largest number of people. The Utilitarian approach often involves a method of analysis that estimates the potential happiness resulting from different decisions, and chooses the course of action that leads to the greatest net gain in happiness or benefit for those affected.