Utilitarianisme: Perbedaan antara revisi

Beberapa mengklaim bahwa [[Johanes Gay|John Gay]] mengembangkan teori sistematis pertama tentang etika utilitarian.<ref>Ashcraft, Richard (1991) John Locke: Critical Assessments (Critical assessments of leading political philosophers), Routledge, p. 691</ref> Dalam ''Concerning the Fundamental Principle of Virtue or Morality'' (1731), Gay berpendapat bahwa:<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gay|first=John|year=2002|title=Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-00304-9|editor-last=Schneewind|editor-first=J. B.|page=408|chapter=Concerning the Fundamental Principle of Virtue or Morality}}</ref>

 

 

{{blockquote|Now it is evident from the nature of God, viz. his being infinitely happy in himself from all eternity, and from his goodness manifested in his works, that he could have no other design in creating mankind than their happiness; and therefore he wills their happiness; therefore the means of their happiness: therefore that my behaviour, as far as it may be a means of the happiness of mankind, should be such...thus the will of God is the immediate criterion of Virtue, and the happiness of mankind the criterion of the will of God; and therefore the happiness of mankind may be said to be the criterion of virtue, but once removed…(and)…I am to do whatever lies in my power towards promoting the happiness of mankind.|author=|title=|source=}}