The term «utilitarianism» is used in a technical (stricter) way to indicate an ethical theory and in a larger one to indicate any secular morality without absolutes. Similarly, «bioethics» has at least three different meanings, i.e., to point to i) an academic discipline, ii) a cultural movement spread out in various western societies, and iii) a field of political involvement (sometimes called biopolitics). Cross relations of the different meanings of these basic words are examined in order to establish how deep is utilitarianismis influence in contemporay society. The overall balance could be satisfactory at moral level, but is not as good at political level, where conservatism look to get advantage (sometimes even with reactionary hints).