What Is Utilitarianism?

A system that holds usefulness to be the end and criterion of action; specifically, the ethical doctrine that actions derive their moral quality from their usefulness as a means to some end, especially as a means productive of happiness or unhappiness; the doctrine that the greatest happiness for the greatest number should be the sole end and criterion of all public action. The concept utilitarianism was introduced by J. S. Mill (1806-1873) through his work Utilitarianism (1864).

J. S. Mill