Jeremy Bentham Principles Of Utilitarianism

Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are known for their theories about utilitarianism. Both of them agree that the ethical right thing to do would be to maximize utility in any given situation. Yet, both of them disagree when it came to defninig pleasure. Bentham’s theory generalizes pleasure as just the same type of emotion felt by anyone and in any situation. Mill’s theory on the other hand stated that there are two different types of pleasure: the higher intellectual pleasure and the lower physical pleasure

Alternatively, Paternoster (2010), suggested that Bentham displayed a more developed deterrence theory model of human conduct. Bentham identified that human behavior is directed by the pursuance of pleasure and the evasion of pain (as cited in Paternoster, 2010). Bentham’s pleasure principle is defined by the benefits; while the pain principle is the costs (as cited in Paternoster, 2010). Bentham specified four elements of pleasure and pain; physical, political, moral or popular, and religious (as

children to William Knox and Mary Knox. In 1759 William Knox a migrant captain died at the

So that is Bentham’s Utilitarianism Theory all explained through three parts, the Motivation of pain and pleasure, the Principle of Utility and the Hedonistic

Bentham’s framework is a theory of Utilitarianism which can be summed simply in the more commonly used phrasing: “the ends justifies the means”. Or basically, that if the outcome of an action is perceived to be more beneficial than failing to perform the action, then the action used to achieve this outcome is

The initial principles and concepts of Utilitarianism were established by Jeremy Brenham. These concepts are built on the idea that action and inaction should be based on what will cause

Happiness and morality, to Bentham, was simply anything that provided the largest amount of pleasure for the longest amount of time for the most amount of people

Jeremy Bentham is a teleological/consequential philosopher or consequentialist, one who focuses on the consequences and ends instead of intention and actions. Bentham’s focus carries more weight than that of Immanuel Kant or John Stuart Mill and their views. Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy focuses on measuring pain and pleasure for the greatest number of morally significant beings through their actions. Bentham presents guidelines that measure the intensity, duration, (un) certainty, propinquity, fecundity, and extent of the pain and pleasure that a certain action beholds and uses these measurements to determine if the action promotes the greatest good (being pleasure in Bentham’s case) for the greatest number of morally significant beings (Hoff 2017).

As the founder of utilitarianism, Bentham believes that an act is considered “just” if it produces the most happiness and the least pain for the greatest number of people affected directly, or indirectly by that action. For Bentham, happiness means giving sovereignty to pleasure over pain. Contrarily, Kant proposes that only duty and rules should dictate our actions, as the outcome is beyond our control. To Kant the only thing that matters is good will. His theory suggests that an action is either “just” or “unjust” regardless of the consequences of that same action. Bentham tried to attain his theory through hedonism and Kant his through universal maxims, neither theory beneficial to everyone. In addition, Jeremy Bentham’s theory is flawed because it only considers the most happiness caused by a moral action, it neglects minorities. Similarly, Kant fully ignoring the consequences of a moral action is not a worthy idea, because at times, we may have more than one duty or obligation to

In essence, Jeremy Bentham believes that our moral behavior is governed by "two sovereign masters", that being pain and pleasure. Bentham argues that these "masters" preside over everything we do, everything we say, and in everything we think. As humans, Bentham argues, it is not our choice to decide to base our morality off of pain and pleasure, but instead we are dominated by these perceptions and are obliged to do so. He brings up the point of the principle of utility, which by definition is the judgment of a particular action in correlation with its effects on the happiness of everyone who is affected by the action. This utility isn't only excluded to self-pleasure, but more broadly, the "interest" of the whole community is calculated.

Jeremy Bentham was one of the first philosophers to present a fully developed system of utilitarianism. He thought that we, as humans, should evaluate the consequences of our actions, determine whether each action is morally right or wrong, and tally the pleasure and pain that comes as a result of our actions. Is it right for me to donate to charity? Is it right for me to cheat on my government test? These questions we ask ourselves fall under Bentham’s theory known as act-utilitarianism because it focuses on the consequences of every action we perform. Bentham argues that the “greatest happiness of the greatest number of people” (Bentham) is how we should determine right from wrong. He also believed “mankind is under the

This case will now be analyzed through the perspective of Jeremy Bentham’s moral theory of utilitarianism. Bentham formulated this moral theory around the theme of the human desire to seek out pleasure and avoid pain. Before going into further depth it is important to note some of the main arguments he is trying to get across. These include the following: human beings have a desire to be benefitted, benefit leads to pleasure, producing as much pleasure as possible, and benefitting as many people as we can. It is now becoming a clearer picture that Bentham’s perspective on morality stresses the satisfaction of human

In the beginning of “An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation” written by Bentham himself he first starts off by saying, “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure” This is the basis of what the principle of utility is all about. Pain and pleasure are what dictate or motivate us to do everything in life. Bentham believes that a decision can be made depending on how much pain and/or pleasure it will bring to the greatest amount of people. So if a decision brings more pain than pleasure to society as a whole it is deemed as wrong and if a decision brings more pleasure than pain it is deemed as a worthy thing to do. Bentham states, “to prevent mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered: if that party be the community in general, then the happiness of the community: if a particular individual, then the happiness of that individual.” The way

Bentham promotes ethical hedonism in some of his writings. Ethical hedonism can be stated as: that action is right which promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number. However, Bentham believes that the world seems in reality to mostly composed of people more closely aligned with psychological egoistic hedonism, which believes that which is right is that which brings the most happiness to the self. Clearly,

According to Bentham, all human beings are governed by two sovereign aspects: Pleasure and pain while each individual accepts the fact that we desire pleasure and unwilling to encounter pain. Then, he came up with his Principle of utility where: