Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is, first, to provide both some historical background on the reception and impact of utilitarianism on business ethics and also company law and legal rulings (especially in the US). Second, it will provide an overview of the contemporary utilitarian approaches to business ethics, and ways in which contemporary legal rulings and legislation have been framed and influenced by utilitarian thinking. Finally, some suggestions are provided for ways in which ongoing utilitarian research could intersect with current business ethics and management scholarship today.