Who are the primary authors of Utilitarianism theory?

The primary authors of Utilitarianism theory are John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham. This ethical framework is rooted in the principle of utility, which advocates for actions that promote the greatest happiness or benefit for the majority. Bentham, in particular, is known for his formulation of the principle of utility and the idea of calculating pleasure versus pain to determine the morality of actions. John Stuart Mill expanded upon Bentham's ideas, emphasizing qualitative differences in pleasures, which helped to refine and develop Utilitarianism into a more sophisticated philosophical approach.

Utilitarianism as a philosophy is characterized by its focus on outcomes and the consequences of actions rather than the intentions behind them. This sets it apart from other ethical theories that prioritize duties or inherent moral values, which is why the other options, featuring philosophers like Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, Aristotle, Socrates, David Hume, and John Rawls, do not accurately describe the founders of this specific theory. Each of these thinkers contributed significantly to ethical thought, but their philosophies align with different frameworks and concepts rather than Utilitarianism.