Final answer:
Utilitarianism is a teleological, or consequential, ethical theory developed by philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, focusing on the outcomes of actions to evaluate their moral worth by the principle of utility—the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Step-by-step explanation:
Utilitarianism and Consequentialism
Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory primarily developed by Jeremy Bentham and later expanded by John Stuart Mill. As a branch of consequentialism, it is deeply teleological in nature, meaning that it considers the end results, or consequences, of actions to determine their moral value. The core principle of utilitarianism posits that actions are morally right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Thus, an action's utility, in terms of producing happiness or reducing pain, is the fundamental measure of its rightness.
Utilitarian philosophers, such as Bentham and Mill, stress that in order to act morally, one must assess the outcomes of one's actions in terms of the pleasure or pain they generate. They believe that this assessment should include the intensity, duration, certainty, proximity, and extent of the potential pleasure or pain caused, as well as how many people are affected by the action. In other words, utilitarianism is inherently a hedonistic ethical theory because it bases the moral worth of an action on its capacity to produce pleasure and avoid pain.
Despite its focus on happiness, utilitarianism also recognizes the importance of considering the wider-reaching consequences of actions. For instance, while an act may seem to maximize happiness in the short term, it could lead to negative repercussions that outweigh the initial benefits when looked at from a broader, societal perspective. This awareness of potential long-term consequences speaks to the sophistication of utilitarian ethical analysis, beyond a simple calculus of immediate pleasure and pain.