Utilitarianism is a way of thinking about rights and happiness. It focuses on making the most people happy, even if that sometimes means individual rights take a back seat. Here’s how it works:

1. Looking at the Big Picture: Utilitarianism weighs individual rights against the overall good for society. For instance, if taking away one person's rights helps a lot of people feel better, it might be seen as okay.

2. Two Approaches:

   • Act Utilitarianism: This looks at individual actions and their quick results. If breaking a rule leads to more happiness, then it could be accepted.
   • Rule Utilitarianism: This approach believes in sticking to rules that usually create happiness. It tries to protect rights over time.

3. Real-Life Example: Think about a situation where a law about privacy might stop important health actions during a health crisis. A utilitarian viewpoint might say it’s okay to pause those privacy rights for a while to help everyone stay healthy and happy.

In the end, utilitarianism tries to balance individual rights with what is best for the larger group. It values both personal freedom and the happiness of the whole community.