BENTHAM’S UTILITARIANISM

ABOUT JEREMY BENTHAM

Jeremy Bentham ( 1748 to 1832) was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer.

He is a leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law.

He propounded the theory of utilitarianism and fair treatment of animals

He influenced the development of liberalism.

PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY

The principle of utility is designed to promote the happiness of the individual or the community.

According to him the business of the government was to promote happiness among the masses, by furthering the enjoyment of pleasure and providing security against the pain.

For him it was the greatest happiness of the greatest number of the people, which constituted the principle of utility.

According to his theory, mankind is always under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.

Goal of Bentham

subsistence, abundance, equality, and security citizens. The goal of security was paramount and

principal one. Next to security, he gave emphasis to the goal of equality.

 

What is UTILITY

Utility is meant that property in any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness

Criticism

The greatest failing of Bentham lies in the fact that he never explained how his model was to be used as he provided the theory of utility never explained how utility was to be measured.

The theory of utility has to abandoned for its lack of theoretical foundations and practical applicability