The Classical Utilitarians

Classical Utilitarians are philosophers, like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, who believe that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure while minimizing pain. They argue that moral choices should be guided by the outcomes of actions—specifically, how many people benefit and to what extent. Bentham emphasized quantitative measures of happiness, while Mill focused on qualitative differences in experiences. Their ideas laid the groundwork for consequentialism, where the results of actions determine their morality. Essentially, they advocate for choosing actions that promote the greatest good for the greatest number.