Which term describes actions that maximize happiness according to utilitarian philosophy?

The term that describes actions that maximize happiness according to utilitarian philosophy is consequentialism. This ethical framework evaluates the morality of an action based solely on its outcomes, emphasizing that the best action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. Utilitarian philosophy is a subset of consequentialism that specifically focuses on happiness or pleasure as the ultimate measure of good.

In this view, the intention behind an action is less significant than the results it yields. Actions are evaluated for their consequences, and those that lead to the greatest overall happiness are considered ethically preferable. This philosophical perspective is foundational to many social and political ideologies that advocate for policies aimed at maximizing well-being for the majority.

The other terms relate to different ethical theories that do not focus explicitly on maximizing happiness through consequences, such as deontological ethics, which emphasizes duties and rules; virtue ethics, which considers the character and virtues of the moral agent; and relativism, which asserts that moral standards are culturally based and subjective. These frameworks do not prioritize the outcomes of actions in the same way that consequentialism does.