Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that argues that the best action is the one that maximizes utility, often defined as happiness or well-being. This principle suggests that the happiness or well-being of the greatest number of people should be considered more important than the happiness or well-being of a smaller number.
John Stuart Mill, a prominent utilitarian philosopher, argued for the greatest happiness principle, which states that "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness."
However, it's crucial to note that Mill also emphasized individual rights and believed that the needs of the many should not be used to suppress the rights of the few.
Therefore, while the exact phrase is from Star Trek, the philosophical concept of prioritizing the well-being of the majority finds its roots in utilitarianism and the works of philosophers like John Stuart Mill.