utilitarianism

n. 1. The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the end and aim of all social and political institutions. Bentham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The doctrine that virtue is founded in utility, or that virtue is defined and enforced by its tendency to promote the highest happiness of the universe. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness. [ 1913 Webster ]