Which ethical system emphasizes the greatest good for the greatest number?

Utilitarianism is the ethical system that emphasizes the principle of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This approach evaluates the morality of actions based on their outcomes or consequences, focusing on maximizing overall happiness and well-being. It encourages decision-makers to consider the impacts of their actions on all stakeholders, aiming for the most favorable balance of benefits over harms across a broad group.

In utilitarianism, therefore, an action is considered morally right if it leads to positive results for more people than negative ones, striving for the highest aggregate utility. This perspective is distinct from other ethical theories like egoism, which centers on self-interest, relativism, which suggests that moral standards are culturally based and subjective, and virtue ethics, which emphasizes the character and virtues of the moral agent rather than the consequences of specific actions.