Classical utilitarianism
Britain, eighteenth–nineteenth centuries
It assesses actions and institutions by the well-being they promote for those affected.
Historical context
Bentham, Mill, and Sidgwick developed influential versions of British utilitarianism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Overview
Assessing a reform also includes effects on people with little political influence. The standard requires specifying whether pleasures, preferences, or another account of welfare are considered.
Main claims
The welfare of everyone affected supplies reasons for evaluating acts and institutions.
Debates and nuances
Bentham, Mill, and Sidgwick offer different accounts of value and moral justification.
This entry provides educational context.