Utilitarianize

To make something conform to the principles of utilitarianism, which prioritizes actions that maximize overall happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people. This involves assessing the consequences of actions, weighing the potential benefits and harms, and choosing the option that yields the most positive outcome for society as a whole. It often implies a rational, objective approach to decision-making, potentially at the expense of individual rights or subjective preferences if the overall societal good is deemed greater. The process involves a shift in focus towards quantifiable outcomes and their impact on the collective.

Utilitarianize meaning with examples

• The government decided to utilitarianize the healthcare system by focusing resources on preventative care and treatments that benefitted the largest number of people, even if it meant limiting access to expensive, specialized treatments for rare conditions. This angered some, but aligned with cost-benefit analysis. This resulted in a significant debate between the parties involved.
• Faced with a severe economic crisis, the city council decided to utilitarianize public services, cutting funding to less utilized programs like art initiatives and investing instead in infrastructure projects that would create jobs and boost overall economic output. This helped the city's fiscal recovery, creating a healthier economy and job availability.
• The company's new CEO decided to utilitarianize its production processes, streamlining operations to reduce waste, lower costs, and increase efficiency. This was done with the aim of maximizing shareholder value and generating more profit, which was believed to benefit everyone involved, from employees to consumers.
• The ethics committee voted to utilitarianize its decision-making process. They now use a points-based system which would weigh the consequences of actions and would award higher marks to decisions which would help a greater number of people, regardless of whether that was the fairest choice, or the correct choice.