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utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a philosophy or belief suggesting that an action is morally right if the majority of people benefit from it.

(noun)

An example of utilitarianism was the belief that dropping the atomic bomb on Japan was a good idea since it potentially saved more lives than it lost.

See utilitarianism in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the doctrine that the worth or value of anything is determined solely by its utility
the doctrine, developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, that the purpose of all action should be to bring about the greatest happiness of the greatest number
utilitarian character or quality

See utilitarianism in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The belief that the value of a thing or an action is determined by its utility.
The ethical theory proposed by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill that all action should be directed toward achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
The quality of being utilitarian: housing of bleak utilitarianism.

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