Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

utilitarianism

2 ENTRIES FOUND:

util·i·tar·i·an·ism

noun \-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm\

Definition of UTILITARIANISM

1
: a doctrine that the useful is the good and that the determining consideration of right conduct should be the usefulness of its consequences; specifically : a theory that the aim of action should be the largest possible balance of pleasure over pain or the greatest happiness of the greatest number
2
: utilitarian character, spirit, or quality

First Known Use of UTILITARIANISM

1827

Other Philosophy Terms

dialectic, dualism, epistemology, existentialism, metaphysics, ontology, sequitur, solipsism, transcendentalism

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: utility (noun)
Previous Word in the Dictionary: utilitarian (adjective)
All Words Near: utilitarianism

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up utilitarianism? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).