Final answer:
True, in utilitarianism, the rightness of an action is judged by its consequences, aiming to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number, with the principle of utility guiding moral assessments.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, utilitarianism posits that the consequences of our actions are central to our moral deliberations. For utilitarians, the moral rightness of any action is determined by its outcomes or consequences. Specifically, an action is deemed right if it yields the greatest amount of happiness to the greatest number of people. This approach to ethics emphasizes the results of actions rather than the actions themselves or the intentions behind them.
The fundamental principle underpinning utilitarianism is the 'principle of utility', which asserts that actions are right as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the opposite. Thus, utilitarians like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill advocate that actions be evaluated based on their capacity to produce utility, understood as happiness or pleasure. Every potential consequence for all those affected should be considered when assessing an action's moral value.
However, this approach can sometimes lead to moral dilemmas, as act utilitarianism can justify actions that conflict with conventional moral standards, under the presumption that these actions maximize overall happiness. Despite such contentions, the emphasis on consequences remains a cornerstone of utilitarian thought.