Abstract This paper reviews the life and work of JeremyBentham, the political economist who was born in 1748 and died in 1832. This paper discusses how Bentham was an important representative of this early prototypical class of political economists who are recognized today for their pioneering work. This paper further discusses the contributions he made to the political economy and as a jurist, a philosopher, and one of the period's foremost proponents of utilitarianism. Bentham was also known for his minor involvement with animal rights issues at time when that particular subject often received short shrift in comparison to some of the greater thematic issues of the day.
Abstract This paper examines the impact of JeremyBentham on Britain's judicial system. This paper discusses the England's corrupt legal system during the 18th and 19th centuries which Bentham succeeded in considerably reforming. This paper analyzes the political thinker's approach to social reform. The writer of this paper delves into Bentham's insightful views and opinions pertaining to political liberty, hedonism and psychological egoism. This paper also examines Bentham's considerable impact on the British Parliament which upon Bentham's death passed the Reform Bill, which extricated political power from the ruling nobility and bestowed it upon British population.
From the Paper "The basis for Bentham's theory of government necessarily starts from his ethical propositions; both of these depend upon his principle of utility he called this the "greatest happiness" principle. Bentham identifies happiness with pleasure, and supposes that the rightness or wrongness of actions can only be accurately comprehended upon a scale of pleasure and pain, happiness and unhappiness. This makes him a hedonist, but he is a utilitarian hedonist in that he believes that human actions should be measured along these guidelines based upon their definitive outcomes. The outcome of purely moral actions spreads this principle throughout all of society: "It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong."
Abstract JeremyBentham, popular English jurist, philosopher and legal and social reformer, was born on February 15, 1748 to a wealthy Tory family. This paper summarizes the life and works of JeremyBentham, including his panopticon design for prisons, his theory of utilitarianism, "Writings of the Poor Laws" and his proposal of industry houses.
From the Paper "There were three obligations that Bentham laid out to the British government to attain Utilitarianism. The first was to provide the poor with enough to survive. This included giving them food, providing clothing and providing security for their livestock and other belongings. The second obligation was to encourage abundance, both wealth and of population. Bentham knew that the larger the population the wealth per capita would drop, but he also knew that you needed a large population for defense. The third and final obligation was equality of means. Bentham wanted taxation to be distributed differently but it must be done carefully or it could possibly decrease the general abundance of the population."
Abstract This paper discusses Hanna Arendt's moral philosophy and how it would be applied to the decision about who to serve in an intensive care unit and JeremyBentham's theory of utility and how it would be applied to the decision of torturing Iraqi prisoners in order to gain information on terrorist cells.
From the Paper "The determination of how to use the available beds in the intensive care unit if applied to Hannah Arendt's view of morality would encompass all of the following considerations on every given potential admission: first come first served, the most critical and life threatening, those who can afford to pay, the youngest the, oldest, those in the most pain, those who have the best chance to survive and those most valuable to the community."
Tags: morality, ethics, values, truth, absolutes, moral code, norms, identity, happiness, pleasure, the good
Abstract This paper will consider in detail the arguments of the theorist who is widely regarded as the 'founding father' of contemporary utilitarian ethics, JeremyBentham. As we shall see, Bentham's version of this theory differs, in important respects, from the outline given above.
Abstract This paper discusses the criminology theories of JeremyBentham. It begins by providing a biographical background of Bentham and explains how his love for law and criminology pushed him to develop new theories. It discusses why these theories were controversial at the time and looks at some critiques of the theories.
From the Paper "Bentham's contribution to the classical theory came in the form of an idea he advanced called utilitarianism (Siegel, 2000). The theory of utilitarianism is based around the idea that lawmaking should be done with the goal of providing the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people (Siegel, 2000). Bentham believed that empirical calculations could be derived to judge what laws would provide the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. As for the criminal application of this theory, he believed that individuals weigh the probabilities of present and future pleasures against those of present and future pain. This balancing of outcomes served as the deciding factor of whether or not an individual would commit an illegal act. Accordingly, Bentham believed that if the proposed pain was in excess of the pleasure derived from the crime, then no crime would result. This is utilitarianism in its simplest sense. In order to understand in a deeper sense (one that explains contexts, applications, and criticisms) one has to look deeper into Bentham's ideas on legal duties, obligations, and powers, and how these contributed to utilitarianism, and finally, how utilitarianism contributed to the classical theory as we understand it today."
Abstract The writer of this article examines the philosophies of JeremyBentham and Robert Nozick regarding their beliefs on hedonism and human action. The writer discusses the moral theory of each man. The writer also looks at intrinsic values. In this paper the search for pleasure and happiness versus the search for authenticity are discussed. The writer also studies Bentham's utilitarian philosophy.
From the Paper "The basic definition of hedonism is that feelings of pleasure or happiness are the principle objective of conduct. From an ethical perspective this means that whatever causes pleasure is right. Within this perspective however, there are many caveats. Pleasure for whom for example and what kind of pleasure constitutes the highest good. The Utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham identifies happiness with pleasure judging the rightness of actions from the happiness they lead to that may be considered as a form of hedonism. In his essay Classical Hedonism he argues that ... "
Abstract This paper looks at Bentham and Beethoven and examines the question of "nurture" vs. "nature". Heredity is looked at as well as environmental influence in terms of what made these two examples what they were.
Abstract This paper explains that utilitarianism is defined as the idea that individuals and government should attempt to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. The author points out that Bentham's argument is based on individual rather than collective rights. The paper concludes that it is only the majority rule of individuals that determines what is right or wrong according to community dictates, and above all, the same process is applicable to pleasure and pain, in whatever shape they appear.
From the Paper "If a person fears pain, it is thus much worse if it is very intense, for a long duration, is close at hand, is certain, is apt to be given again, and will not be followed by pleasure. Perhaps an example might be, to take a relatively benign comparison. Who is in more pain of the following two students? A poor student, facing the SATs the next morning, who must take the test and is compelled to do so by his zealous parents, but feels he or she is doomed to failure versus a good student, offered the option of taking an extra credit quiz at some point in the semester, the time of which he or she may choose, of less than a half-hour's time, followed by a pizza party? The individual in the most pain, in the scenarios, is intuitively obvious, even if one does not grade the two upon Bentham's scales of intensities of pain and pleasure."
Tags: individuals, government, good, majority, rights
Abstract The paper begins with a discussion of the more simple considerations of Bentham regarding happiness and its relation to pleasure. It is argued that Bentham's rather mathematical calculations of pleasure, and therefore happiness, are inadequate. Mill's distinction of "higher" and "lower" pleasures are here brought in. With reference to the case of Haydn and the Oyster, it is shown that Mill's modification to Bentham is useful in certain areas, but causes more problems for Mill's overall utilitarianism, such as accusations of elitism and an unclear distinction between the two kinds of pleasure.
From the Paper "Ever since antiquity, the concept of happiness has been vital to moral philosophy, although it has been occasionally neglected at times. Crisp says as much in his introduction to Utilitarianism: "we should consider seriously deficient an ethics which contains no answer to the question of the relation between morality and the happiness of the moral agent" . With regards to utilitarianism, this question is dealt with by the two figureheads of the theory, Bentham and Mill. Though the specific question of what happiness is is not central to utilitarianism, the fact that it is marked out as the only actual end in life, and leads to the Greatest Happiness Principle, makes it logical to define, however briefly."
Abstract The field of economic analysis of law is said to have begun with JeremyBentham who systematically examined how actors would behave in the face of legal incentives and who evaluated outcomes with respect to a clearly stated measure of social welfare (utilitarianism). This paper examines economic analysis of law seeks to answer two basic questions about legal rules. Namely, what are the effects of legal rules on the behavior of relevant actors? And are these effects of legal rules socially desirable? In answering these positive and normative questions, the approach employed in economic analysis of law is that used in economic analysis generally. The behavior of individuals and firms is described assuming that they are forward looking and rational and the framework of welfare economics is adopted to assess social desirability.
From the Paper "But no matter how careful we might be considering the economic analysis of the situation there can be no presupposition of a truth vis-?-vis utilitarian ethics. If we consider that utilitarianism takes well being as the only goal for human activity, then we must identify it with happiness or desire-fulfillment. Instead, a theory of justice and rights ought to be considered important in its own right within economic ethics. Market-wise, whatever is in vogue is what will be implemented."
Abstract The writings of Plato, Thomas Aquinas and JeremyBentham have exerted great influence over our ideas of justice and have spawned various schools of thought. This paper compares views on justice by looking at their writings on the ideal state and what constitutes moral behavior.
From the Paper "Plato (427-327 BC) is one of the most famous philosophers of antiquity. In The Republic, Plato wrote of his concept of individual justice as an offshoot of what he sees as a tripartite soul. Plato believed that the human soul is divided into three elements. First, there are the bodily appetites, expressed through bodily needs such as hunger and thirst. Second are the spiritual elements, expressed through emotions like love, anger and compassion. Above all, the third element that separates people from animals and makes them unique is the human ability to use language and reason (Annas 1981)."
Uses the examples of John Stuart Mill and JeremyBentham to demonstrate that utilitarianims supports the ethical and moral "do not resuscitate" decision.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 44.95
Abstract This essay discusses how do not resuscitate (DNR) decisions from a patient standpoint can be proven morally and ethically upon examination through the principles of utilitarianism. The examples of John Stuart Mill and JeremyBentham epitomize this reality.
An examination of the ethics of euthanasia using the JeremyBentham's principle of utility from 'An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation'.
Abstract This paper provides a definition of euthanasia, and then relates it to the principle of utility as described in 'An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation' by JeremyBentham. The paper then discusses the ethical perspective of euthanasia from the perspective of religion.
Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion
From the Paper "From this point of view, if an action brings them happiness, it possesses utility; by contrast, to the extent that it does not do so is the extent to which it can be viewed as being a constraint to happiness: "By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question: or, what is the same thing in other words, to promote or to oppose that happiness" (p. 12). In reality, then, the steps that could be followed in an application of this principle to the concept of the ethics of euthanasia are not very different from any other setting."
Abstract The paper explains Thomas Hobbes' and John Stuart Mill's arguments for a better society. The paper looks at Mill's principle of utility and Hobbes' social contract theory. The paper discusses how John Stuart Mill's views on utilitarianism are primarily influenced by those of JeremyBentham. The paper is of the opinion that Mill presents the stronger argument for a stable society.
From the Paper "The idea of society is perhaps one of the greatest things to have ever been created by humans. There are an infinite number of ways that a society can be run, and it is one of the most debated topics of all time. Some of the greatest thinkers the world has ever seen have given thought to this topic, including two by the names of John Stuart Mill and Thomas Hobbes. Although their ideas are both based on society, they each take a very different approach to the topic and Mill is known for his writings such as Utilitarianism, which is based upon the principle of utility. His views are utilitarianistic, which proposes a society based upon the idea of "the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people" (Wikipedia Mill 5)."
