Act utilitarianism | The classic version of utilitarianism that focuses on the consequences of a single act.
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Ataraxia | Epicurus's highest form of pleasure, having peace of mind due to freedom from pain.
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Enlightenment, the | In the European and American cultural tradition, the eighteenth century saw a new focusing on the rights of the individual, the importance of education, and the objectivity of science. Also called the Age of Reason or the Western Enlightenment; rationality was considered the ultimate cultural goal by scientists, philosophers, and many politicians.
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Extrinsic value | See instrumental value.
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Fecundity | Being fruitful, have good consequences.
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Greatest-happiness principle, the | See utility.
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Instrumental value | To have value for the sake of what further value it might bring. Also known as extrinsic value; good as a means to an end. See means to an end.
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Intrinsic value | To have value in itself without regard to what it might bring of further value. Good in itself, good as an "end in itself". See end in oneself
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Liberalism | A political theory that supports gradual reforms through parliamentary procedures and civil liberties.
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Libertarianism | (1) A theory of government that holds the individual has a right to life, liberty, and property; that nobody should interfere with these rights (negative rights); and that the government's role should be restricted to protecting these right. (2) A theory that humans have free will independent of mechanistic causality.
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Naturalistic fallacy | The assumption that one can conclude from what is natural/a fact ("what is") what should be a rule or a policy ("what ought to be"). Not all philosophers think this is a fallacy.
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Principle of Utility | See utility.
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Rule utilitarianism | The branch of utilitarianism that focuses on the consequences of a type of action done repeatedly, and not just a single act. See act utilitarianism.
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Utilitarianism | The theory that one ought to maximize the happiness and minimize the unhappiness of as many people (or sentient beings) as possible.
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Utility | Fitness for some purpose, especially for creating happiness and/or minimizing pain and suffering. Principle of utility: To create as much happiness and to minimize suffering as much as possible for as many as possible. Also: the greatest-happiness principle.
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