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🤔intro to philosophy review

Jeremy Bentham

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Jeremy Bentham was an influential English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. He is best known for his work on utilitarianism, which is a moral and political philosophy that holds that the most ethical choice is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being for all those affected.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Bentham's utilitarian philosophy was based on the principle of 'the greatest good for the greatest number', which he believed should guide moral and political decision-making.
  2. Bentham argued that the fundamental goal of morality should be to maximize overall happiness and minimize suffering, which he called 'the greatest happiness principle'.
  3. He believed that all actions should be judged based on their consequences, rather than on the basis of adherence to moral rules or duties.
  4. Bentham was a strong advocate for social reform and proposed a number of progressive ideas, such as the decriminalization of homosexuality and the abolition of slavery.
  5. His ideas on utilitarianism and consequentialism had a significant influence on the development of moral philosophy and political theory in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Review Questions

  • Explain Bentham's 'greatest happiness principle' and how it relates to consequentialism.
    • Jeremy Bentham's 'greatest happiness principle' is the core tenet of his utilitarian philosophy, which holds that the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This principle is closely aligned with consequentialism, the moral theory that the consequences of one's actions are the ultimate basis for judgments about their morality. Bentham argued that the fundamental goal of morality should be to maximize overall happiness and minimize suffering, and that all actions should be evaluated based on their outcomes rather than adherence to moral rules or duties.
  • Describe Bentham's influence on the development of moral philosophy and political theory.
    • Jeremy Bentham's ideas on utilitarianism and consequentialism had a significant impact on the evolution of moral philosophy and political theory in the 19th and 20th centuries. His 'greatest happiness principle' and focus on maximizing overall well-being challenged traditional deontological approaches to ethics that emphasized adherence to moral rules or duties. Bentham's emphasis on the consequences of actions as the primary basis for moral judgments was a foundational element of consequentialist ethical frameworks. Additionally, Bentham's progressive social reform proposals, such as the decriminalization of homosexuality and the abolition of slavery, influenced the development of modern liberal political thought and the expansion of individual rights and freedoms.
  • Analyze how Bentham's utilitarianism and consequentialism relate to the concept of 9.2 Consequentialism.
    • Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism and consequentialism are directly relevant to the concept of 9.2 Consequentialism, which is the moral theory that the consequences of one's actions are the ultimate basis for judgments about their morality. Bentham's core principle of the 'greatest happiness' holds that the most ethical choice is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This focus on outcomes rather than adherence to moral rules or duties is a defining feature of consequentialist ethics. Bentham's arguments that all actions should be evaluated based on their consequences, rather than on the basis of deontological principles, laid the groundwork for the development of consequentialist moral philosophy. His influential ideas on utilitarianism and the maximization of overall well-being are thus deeply intertwined with the concept of 9.2 Consequentialism.

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