Which approach focuses on actions that result in the greater good for the majority?

The utilitarian approach is centered on the idea of maximizing overall happiness and minimizing suffering. It evaluates actions based on their consequences, with the goal of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This approach encourages decision-makers to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of their options by considering how different actions will impact overall well-being.

In practical terms, a utilitarian perspective often leads to analyzing scenarios to predict the potential outcomes and prioritize choices that yield the most favorable results for the majority involved. This approach is influential in areas such as public policy, healthcare, and business ethics, as it seeks to create solutions that are beneficial for the wider community rather than focusing on individual interests or rights.

The other options, while relevant in the context of ethics and decision-making, do not specifically emphasize the balance of outcomes and their effects on the majority in the same way the utilitarian approach does. For instance, the rights approach focuses more on individual entitlements and the protection of basic rights rather than collective outcomes.