功利主义具有悠久的历史传统。它不仅是一种片面的个人主义逐利倾向,而且还包含同情别人、奉献社会、促成最大多数人最大幸福的伦理思想。而且,它不仅是一种伦理思想,更是与经济学、政治学、法律与社会学的融合。或者说,功利主义起初是人们的一种心理状态,后来发展成为有意识的伦理学说,它极大地激发了人们对于世俗利益和幸福的追求,也极大地推动了社会进步。从这个意义上说,它极大地影响了社会的经济、政治、道德和法律面貌。尽管它在诸多理论家心目中并不神圣,甚至经常遭致批判,但它在市民社会中成为显耀的意识形态。依照唯物史观,功利主义既是推动个人与社会发展的巨大动力,似乎又作恶多端。在社会主义市场经济体制中,同样需要警惕“未启蒙的利己主义”。 Utilitarianism has a long history of tradition. It is not only a one-sided tendency toward individualism and profit but also contains ethics that sympathize with others, contribute to society, and bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest majority. Moreover, it is not only an ethic, but also amalgamating with economics, politics, law and sociology. In other words, utilitarianism was originally a psychological state of people and later developed into a conscious ethical theory. It greatly stimulated people’s pursuit of secular interests and happiness and greatly promoted social progress. In this sense, it greatly affects the economic, political, moral and legal aspects of society. Although it is not sacred or even often criticized by many theorists, it has become a prominent ideology in civil society. According to the historical materialism, utilitarianism is not only a huge impetus to promoting the development of individuals and society, but also appears to be evil. In the socialist market economic system, the same need to be vigilant “non-enlightened self-interest ”.