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Act utilitarianism  The classic version of utilitarianism that focuses on the consequences of a single act.
Ataraxia  Epicurus's highest form of pleasure, having peace of mind due to freedom from pain.
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.
Extrinsic value  See instrumental value.
Fecundity  Being fruitful, have good consequences.
Greatest-happiness principle, the  See utility.
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.
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
Liberalism  A political theory that supports gradual reforms through parliamentary procedures and civil liberties.
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.
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.
Principle of Utility  See utility.
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.
Utilitarianism  The theory that one ought to maximize the happiness and minimize the unhappiness of as many people (or sentient beings) as possible.
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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