BENTHAMS

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