The book sets out an approach to the construction of ethical theory from the point of view of indirect utilitarianism, or rule utilitarianism, as opposed to act utilitarianism. The author explores the connection between ethics and economic theory: the degree of economic development and the level of prosperity of a society are determined by its moral climate. The history of utilitarian doctrine from Hume, Bentham and Mill to modern representatives of this trend in ethics is critically analyzed. Answers are offered to many criticisms of utilitarianism, in particular to accusations of collectivist summation of benefits, vacuity, fetishization of rules, and encouragement of immorality. An assessment of alternative approaches is given: intuitionism, subjectivism, emotivism, contractualism, the theory of natural rights.