Antiutilitarian

/ˌæntiˌjuːtɪlɪˈtɛriən/ adjective

Definition

Opposed to utilitarianism; rejecting the idea that actions should be judged solely by their usefulness or practical results.

Etymology

From anti- (against) + utilitarian (from Latin utilis, useful + -arian, follower of). Philosophical terminology for opposing Jeremy Bentham's 19th-century ethical framework.

Kelly Says

Some philosophers argue that pure utilitarianism would justify killing one innocent person to save five—antiutilitarians say that violates justice and human rights, making this word central to modern ethics debates.

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