功利主义 (gōng lì zhǔ yì) — utilitarianism (philosophical theory)

Definition

A Western ethical theory judging actions by their outcomes and overall usefulness (greatest good for the greatest number). The term is 主义 ('-ism') attached to 功利 ('utility, expedience').

noun
utilitarianism (philosophical theory)

Examples

  • 功利主义。
    gōng lì zhǔ yì Shì xī fāng lún lǐ xué zhōng zhòng yào de dào dé lǐ lùn zhī yī.
    Utilitarianism is an important moral theory in Western ethics.
  • 功利主义，。
    Tā de jué cè wán quán jī yú gōng lì zhǔ yì, zhī kǎo lǜ jié guǒ ér bú zài hu shǒu duàn.
    His decisions are entirely based on utilitarianism, only considering outcomes and not caring about means.
  • 功利主义。
    Shè huì shàng yǒu xiē rén pī píng xiàn dài jiào yù guò yú qiáng diào gōng lì zhǔ yì.
    Some in society criticize modern education for overemphasizing utilitarianism.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

功利utility
功gōngmerit利lìbenefit
联合Side by side
主义
主zhǔ义yì

The sense of 功利 as 'utility' is joined to 主义 to name the doctrine of utility.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng功gōng
Same sound today

功 puts 力 (strength) beside 工, which gives the sound gōng and means labour or work.

Open 功 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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