Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M10318

Greatest Happiness Principle

Greatest Happiness Principle
CultureHigh supportEthics
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The core of Bentham's and Mill's utilitarianism: the right action is one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Consequence-oriented ethical thinking. When evaluating actions, not only motives or rules but also the actual consequences on overall happiness should be considered.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Core utilitarian principle: the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on whether it maximizes the overall happiness (utility) of those affected. The mechanism is the aggregation and comparison of utility.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stuart_MillZH · Explicit
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