An introduction to the principles of morals and Legislation
Jeremy Bentham - A Selection
Professor Douglas Olena
Principle of Utility
60 ’ÄúNature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters,
pain and
pleasure.’Äù
This is a fact of life, a ground of experience, the foundation for reason and law.
Principle of Utility
61 II.& III. The principle of utility has to do with the
Promotion of happiness and
the diminishment of pain,
not only for individuals ’Äúbut of every measure of government.’Äù
Principle of Utility
61 X. The words ought, right, wrong and others like them are useful only when they agree with the dictates of utility and not otherwise.
Principles Adverse to that of Utility
62 Asceticism:
the Philosophic version portrays pleasure as vulgar and is indifferent to pain
the Religious has gone to lengths to make a virtue out of suffering by renunciation.
Principles Adverse to that of Utility
63 VII ’ÄúThe partizan of the principle of utility, ’Ķthey joined in branding with the odious name of Epicurean.’Äù
VIII. However asceticism is embraced privately, it ’Äúseems not to have been carried to any considerable length, when applied to the business of government’Ķ
Principles Adverse to that of Utility
63 XI. Sympathy and Antipathy.
Government is not run on some reasonable utility but rather on the whim of the creators of law.
If they feel that some action is wrong, they write a law against it.
If they feel sympathetic toward something, they approve it.
The Hedonic Calculus
64, 65 How pain is measured: (See also page 52 and 53)
Though Bentham doesn’Äôt think this calculus can be used in every case, it can, however, be used to move closer to a fair evaluation of some act.