Utilitarian - what is it? Although the word refers to the scientific lexicon, it can often be heard in everyday life. For all the differences in interpretation, both approaches to understanding the word are closely related to the concept of benefit. Details that this is utilitarian will be described in the article.
Dictionary Interpretation
There are two possible meanings in the dictionary. Utilitarian in the first case is a philosophical term denoting an attitude to such an ethical theory as the utilitarianism characteristic of it.
Example: “As an ideal of utilitarian morality, whose main preacher is D. S. Mill, the possibility of making the greatest number of people happy is being considered.”
The second option suggests that the utilitarian is one that has practical significance or is aimed at deriving benefits of a material nature, achieving a practical goal.
Example: “In the past, material such as chamotte was used to produce purely utilitarian things, such as stoves, but over time, it fell in love with artists, since it withstands any manipulation when sculpting.”
Next, words that are close in meaning to the word "utilitarian" will be considered.
Synonyms
Among them are such as:
- pragmatic;
- utilitarian;
- practical;
- applied;
- narrow utilitarian;
- narrow practice;
- banal;
- useful;
- prosaic;
- productive;
- favorable;
- economical;
- comfortable;
- real;
- real;
- valid;
- efficient;
- materialistic;
- vital;
- limited;
- unilateral;
- constructive.
Further, it will be expedient to proceed to the origin of the studied object.
Etymology
This term came to us from the Latin language. Initially in the vulgar Latin there was the verb usare, from which another verb was formed in Latin - uti, meaning "to use, to use, to use." From it, in turn, came the adjective utibilis, and then utilis in the meaning of "useful, suitable, suitable."
Further, in Latin, the noun utilitas was formed, and after it another noun utility, both in the meaning of "utility, utility." From the latter came the English adjective utilitarian, meaning "utilitarian." The author of this term was Jeremy Bentham, a British philosopher who lived in the 18-19 centuries. He introduced it into everyday life in 1781.
At the end of the study of the question that this is utilitarian, the closely related word "utilitarianism" should be considered.
Ethics Direction
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory according to which the moral value of behavior, an action is determined from the point of view of the benefits that they bring. At the same time, the usefulness of an act implies the happiness or pleasure received by all parties affected during the period of action of the consequences of a committed act. Thus, in utilitarianism, an act is evaluated not by itself, but by results.
Utilitarianism is based on hedonism and eudaimonism. These are axiological, that is, value teachings that declare happiness or pleasure as the highest value. However, today the definition of these concepts is a problem. The question of their identity is also difficult. As a rule, modern Western utilitarian scientists are of the opinion that they are identical.
The ideas of hedonism and eudaimonism were expressed by ancient philosophers, such as Aristippus and Epicurus. In modern times, they were followed by David Hume. But as a moral system, utilitarianism took shape only in the works of Jeremy Bentham. It follows from his classical formula that actions that ultimately bring the greatest number of people the greatest happiness are moral.
According to Bentham, the triumph of utilitarianism at the public level is possible when it is supported by the state. One of the most important undertakings should be the reform of the criminal legal system. It was under the influence of these ideas in England at the beginning of the 19th century that a number of cruel laws were abolished, for example, the death penalty, which was used for minor thefts.