Jeremy Bentham--Utilitarianism. AI overview.

AI Overview

Jeremy Bentham | Utilitarianism.net

Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory defining morality by the "greatest happiness principle," aiming for the most pleasure and least pain for the greatest number; it's a quantitative, hedonistic system using the Felicific Calculus to measure pleasure's intensity, duration, etc., applying to law, government, and personal action to maximize overall well-being.

Core Principles

Principle of Utility: Actions are right if they promote happiness (pleasure) and wrong if they cause pain; the goal is the greatest good for the greatest number.

Hedonism: Pleasure is the only intrinsic good, and pain the only intrinsic bad, forming the basis of human motivation.

Consequentialism: The morality of an act is judged solely by its outcomes (consequences).

Impartiality: Everyone's happiness counts equally; it's a democratic, impartial system.

The Felicific Calculus (Utility Calculus) Bentham proposed a method to quantify pleasure and pain, assessing actions by considering:

Intensity: How strong is the feeling?

Duration: How long does it last?

Certainty/Uncertainty: How likely is it to happen?

Propinquity/Remoteness: How soon will it occur?

Fecundity: Will it lead to more pleasure (or pain)?

Purity: Is it free from pain (or vice versa)?

Extent: How many people does it affect?

Application & Impact

Law & Reform: Bentham applied utilitarianism to create laws and advocate for prison reform, women's suffrage, and abolition, aiming for societal happiness.

Influence: He founded classical utilitarianism, later expanded by John Stuart Mill, impacting moral theory and policy.

Criticisms

Quality of Pleasure: Critics, especially J.S. Mill, found Bentham's focus on simple pleasure (hedonism) lacking, as it didn't differentiate between higher (intellectual) and lower (physical) pleasures.

Justice: Critics argue it could justify harming individuals for the greater good, undermining rights and justice.

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