Distinguish between utilitarianism and formalism.

This distinction is one found most commonly in business ethics.

Utilitarianism is an ethical doctrine that is based on the ethical theory of John Stuart Mill who, in turn, was influenced by the hedonistic ethics of Jeremy Bentham. According to utilitarianism, an action is good insofar as it maximizes good consequences or a good outcome. For example, if a utilitarian were asked to choose between an action that injured five people versus one that injured...

This distinction is one found most commonly in business ethics.

Utilitarianism is an ethical doctrine that is based on the ethical theory of John Stuart Mill who, in turn, was influenced by the hedonistic ethics of Jeremy Bentham. According to utilitarianism, an action is good insofar as it maximizes good consequences or a good outcome. For example, if a utilitarian were asked to choose between an action that injured five people versus one that injured ten, the utilitarian would always choose the action that results in five people injured since this the best outcome. This, at least, is simple act utilitarianism.

Formalism, on the other hand, focuses on the rules that are right. Formalism is akin to deontological ethics associated with Immanuel Kant in that it places value on principles and rules rather than outcomes. If a wrong action results in fewer people being injured (to use the example from the previous paragraph), the formalist would not choose it. The outcome has no moral significance.