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Why is doing the greatest good for the greatest number sometimes referred to as "the end justifies the means"?

User Izkeros
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Final answer:

Doing the greatest good for the greatest number is sometimes referred to as 'the end justifies the means' because it prioritizes overall happiness and well-being over the actions taken to achieve it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The idea of doing the greatest good for the greatest number is sometimes referred to as 'the end justifies the means' because it prioritizes the overall happiness and well-being of a larger number of people over the actions taken to achieve that happiness. In utilitarianism, the principle of utility states that the right actions are those that produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. This means that the consequences of an action matter more than the actions themselves, and if the overall happiness is maximized, the means taken to achieve it may be justified.

User Brijesh Valera
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