According to the moral viewpoints, which perspective emphasizes maximizing well-being for humans and animals?

The utilitarian view is centered on the principle of maximizing overall happiness and well-being for both humans and animals. This perspective, rooted in the philosophy of utilitarianism, seeks to assess the moral worth of actions based on their outcomes, specifically focusing on promoting the greatest good for the greatest number. In practical terms, this means considering the impact of actions on the well-being of all sentient beings, thereby extending moral consideration beyond just humans to include animals as well.

Utilitarianism is often associated with thinkers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, who argued that the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its ability to produce overall pleasure or minimize suffering. This makes it distinctively focused on the consequences of actions and their ability to foster happiness.

The other viewpoints mentioned do not specifically emphasize maximizing well-being for both humans and animals in the same way. For instance, the contractarian view is more concerned with moral obligations that arise from social contracts, while the relational view emphasizes the importance of personal relationships and commitments. The animal rights view is focused primarily on the inherent rights of animals, rather than a broader utilitarian calculus that encompasses the well-being of all sentient beings.