Bentham, Jeremy (1748-1832), an English philosopher, founded the philosophy known as utilitarianism. He thought that ideas, institutions, and actions should be judged on the basis of their utility (usefulness).
Bentham defined utility as the ability to produce happiness. He advocated the production of the greatest possible amount of happiness in and for society. Bentham thought of happiness and good in terms of pleasure. He believed that (1) pleasure can be exactly measured, (2) individuals care only about increasing their own pleasure and decreasing their pain, and (3) a person should always do what will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Bentham set up a number of principles for measuring pleasure. He also sought an opportunity to organize a country’s laws and institutions in such a way that they would place the general good above each person’s individual pleasure.
His criticisms brought about many needed reforms. For example, in Britain the law courts were reformed because they had not promoted the good of all.
Bentham’s writings include Fragment on Government (1776) and Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789). He was born on Feb. 15, 1748, in London. Bentham graduated from Queen’s College, Oxford, in 1763. He died on June 6, 1832.
