Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Jeremy Bentham — Carmelics
    Thinkers/Jeremy Bentham
    Jeremy Bentham

    Jeremy Bentham

    modernUtilitarianism

    1748 – 1832

    Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism. He advocated that the rightness of actions is determined by their contribution to overall happiness, famously summarized as 'the greatest happiness of the greatest number,' and applied this principle to law, economics, and social institutions.

    WWikipediaSEPStanford EncyclopediaIEPInternet Encyclopedia

    Notable Achievements

    1

    Founded classical utilitarianism as a systematic ethical theory

    2

    Developed the felicific calculus for quantifying pleasure and pain

    3

    Authored 'An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation' (1789)

    4

    Pioneered legal positivism and extensive legal reform proposals

    5

    Designed the Panopticon prison concept and advocated for animal welfare and individual liberties

    Positions & Arguments

    (3)

    Democracy & Governance

    claim

    Global democratic procedures can help international organizations avoid the complications of politicization.

    Aesthetics

    claim

    Moral and aesthetic excellence are objective qualities in objects, not merely projections of the pleasure they cause in observers.

    Virtue Ethics

    claim

    Moral and aesthetic excellence are objective qualities in objects, not merely projections of the pleasure they cause in observers.

    Moral Responsibility

    claim

    Harmful conduct and wrongdoing are distinguishable concepts

    Justice & Punishment

    claim

    Harmful conduct and wrongdoing are distinguishable concepts

    At a Glance

    Ideas

    3

    Topics

    5

    Era

    modern

    Tradition

    Utilitarianism

    Topic Influence

    Democracy & Governance1
    Virtue Ethics1
    Justice & Punishment1
    Moral Responsibility1
    Aesthetics1

    Related Thinkers

    Thomas Hobbes5 sharedHenry Sidgwick5 sharedImmanuel Kant4 sharedSulzer3 sharedLeibniz3 sharedWolff3 sharedAristotle3 shared

    Dive Deeper

    Explore Democracy & Governance→See Virtue Ethics→
    David Hume3 shared