Which ethical framework prioritizes the greatest good for the greatest number?

Utilitarianism is the ethical framework that focuses on maximizing overall happiness or benefit, prioritizing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This approach evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences, advocating for actions that produce the most favorable balance of good outcomes over bad ones for the majority.

In practical terms, utilitarianism often involves weighing the potential benefits and harms of different actions and choosing one that leads to the highest net positive impact. This framework is particularly relevant in policymaking and ethical decision-making contexts, where the effects of decisions can be measured in terms of overall societal benefit.

The other frameworks present different perspectives: deontology emphasizes the morality of actions based on rules and duties rather than outcomes, virtue ethics focuses on the character and virtues of individuals, and relativism suggests that moral standards are based on cultural context rather than being universal. Each framework offers valuable insights but does not center on the concept of maximizing utility for the most people in the same way that utilitarianism does.