Which ethical principle emphasizes maximizing benefits and minimizing harms?

The ethical principle that emphasizes maximizing benefits and minimizing harms is beneficence. This principle focuses on actions that promote the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. In research and professional practice, beneficence is about taking steps to ensure that participants receive the greatest possible positive outcomes while reducing any potential risks or negative consequences associated with the research or practice.

Understanding beneficence is crucial in contexts such as clinical trials, medical interventions, and social research, where the wellbeing of participants must be prioritized. This principle is central to ethical decision-making, guiding researchers and practitioners to evaluate the potential positive impacts of their work and balance them against any possible risks, ensuring that the overall benefit outweighs any harm that might occur.

Other ethical principles, such as justice, respect for persons, and non-maleficence, play important roles in ethical frameworks but focus on different aspects — fairness in distribution of resources, recognizing individuals' autonomy, and avoiding harm, respectively. While they all contribute to ethical considerations, it is beneficence that specifically encompasses the dual goals of maximizing good and minimizing harm.