Final answer:
Utilitarianism is based on the ancient Greek philosophical school of Epicureanism, which advocated for pleasure as the ultimate good. Utilitarian thinkers like Bentham and Mill developed this into a moral framework that emphasizes actions that maximize happiness and minimize pain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Foundations of Utilitarianism
The ancient Greek philosophical school that Utilitarianism is based upon is Epicureanism. Utilitarian thinkers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill were influenced by the Epicurean pursuit of pleasure as the ultimate good. Bentham and Mill adapted this idea into a moral framework that proposed actions are right if they tend to promote happiness and wrong if they produce the opposite of happiness. The focus on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain, and the consequentialist stance that the outcome of an action determines its moral worth are key aspects of Utilitarianism that can be traced back to the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus.
The Stoics, another Hellenistic school, also had a significant impact on later philosophical thought, including the development of some concepts in Utilitarianism. However, Stoicism focused more on personal ethics and rational self-control to achieve inner peace, rather than the hedonistic approach to ethics that characterizes Utilitarianism.
In summary, while Utilitarianism shares some similarities with other Hellenistic philosophies, such as an emphasis on personal happiness and the good life, it is most directly descended from the Epicurean school's teachings on pleasure and pain as the basis for moral judgment.