What underlying concept prescribes that moral standards are essential for governing behaviors in society?

Utilitarianism emphasizes that actions are considered morally right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people, highlighting the importance of moral standards in guiding behavior for the welfare of society. This philosophical approach underlines that ethical decisions should be made based on the consequences for overall well-being, suggesting that moral standards are not only helpful but necessary for social governance and cohesion.

The other concepts, while significant in ethical discussions, do not primarily focus on the necessity of moral standards in governing behavior. Legal positivism centers more on the idea that laws are rules created by humans and do not necessarily have to align with moral values. Ethical relativism posits that moral standards are not universal and vary between cultures, undermining a unified approach to governance. Social contract theory discusses the implicit agreement among individuals to form societies and abide by common rules, but it does not inherently prescribe moral standards as necessary for societal function in the way utilitarianism does.