From the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham (An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, 1789) and John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism, 1861); the term was coined by Elizabeth Anscombe (Modern Moral Philosophy, 1958).
Judges an action by its outcomes, listing everyone affected, estimating gains and harms with their odds, and comparing the totals across options.
When to reach for it
When a policy, allocation, or trade-off affects many people unevenly and the options need comparing by what each would actually do to them.
How it runs
- Name the action or policy under review.
- List everyone affected, directly and indirectly.
- Estimate the size and likelihood of each consequence.
- Total the consequences, and compare the options.
- Add long-term effects on trust, institutions, and precedent.
- Cross-check against rule-based and character-based ethics.
Where it sits in SOLVE eX
Go to the source
- An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, 1789
- Utilitarianism, 1861
- Modern Moral Philosophy, Philosophy 33, 1958