English Explanatory Dictionary

felicific calculus

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A quasi-mathematical technique proposed by 19th-century utilitarian ethical theorists for determining the net amount of happiness, pleasure, or utility resulting from an action, sometimes regarded as a precursor of cost-benefit analysis.

Word forms

felicific calculus

Etymology

Widely attributed to British philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), but apparently used only by his successors.

Synonyms

hedonic calculus hedonistic calculus moral arithmetic utility calculus
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