consequentialism. Ethics. An ethical theory that judges the rightness or wrongness of actions according to their consequences. • One of the best-known types of consequentialism is utilitarianism. See UTILITARIANISM. Cf. VIRTUE ETHICS.
utilitarianism. The philosophical and economic doctrine that the best social policy is that which does the most good for the greatest number of people; esp., an ethical theory that judges the rightness or wrongness of actions according to the pleasure they create or the pain they inflict and recommending whatever action creates the greatest good
virtue ethics. Ethics. An ethical theory that focuses on the character of the actor rather than on the nature of the act or its consequences. • This approach received its first and perhaps its fullest expression in the works of Aristotle, esp. in his Ethics. Cf. CONSEQUENTIALISM.