negative utilitarianism

noun

A form of utilitarianism that says we should minimize the total amount of aggregate suffering, or that we should minimize suffering and then, secondarily, maximize the total amount of happiness.

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Meanings

nounnegative utilitarianism (usually uncountable, plural negative utilitarianisms)

plural negative utilitarianisms

  1. uncountableusuallyethicsA form of utilitarianism that says we should minimize the total amount of aggregate suffering, or that we should minimize suffering and then, secondarily, maximize the total amount of happiness.
Cite this entry
APA

negative utilitarianism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/negative%20utilitarianism

MLA

“negative utilitarianism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/negative%20utilitarianism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “negative utilitarianism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/negative%20utilitarianism.

Source: negative utilitarianism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.