John Stuart Mill

British philosopher and political economist (1806–1873)

In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for the affected individuals. In other words, utilitarian ideas encourage actions that lead to the greatest good for the greatest number. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different characterizations, the basic idea that underpins them all is, in some sense, to maximize utility, which is often defined in terms of well-being or related concepts. For instance, Jeremy Bentham, the founder of utilitarianism, described utility as the capaci

French chemist

moral philosophy principle

German botanist (1822–1902)

methods of induction developed by philosopher John Stuart Mill

rationale for freedom of expression in a liberal democracy