Benthamite Approach to Aggregate Welfare

Greatest Happiness of Greatest Number

1. Benthamite Approach to Aggregate Welfare (Utilitarianism)

2. Utilitarianism is a moral and ethical philosophy in political theory. Though the traces can be finding even in ancient Greek philosophy it was popularized because of contributions made by Jeremy Bentham and J.S.Mill . This concept has played an important role in the first half of the Nineteenth century. Utilitarianism is a theory mainly based on the principle greatest happiness to the greatest member

3. Utilitarianism became a core principle for all most all Nations in their political, economic, social functioning today. Though Bentham and J.S.Mill are the strong supporters of Utilitarian concept there are some differences between their approaches. Bentham strongly said that men's life always lies between two different masters like Pain and Pleasure. Moreover Bentham said that pain and pleasure can be measured through arithmetical method and there is a possibility for quantitative difference between pain and pleasure.

4. J.S.Mill is the strong supporter of the utilitarianism and individualism. Mill in his explanation he pawed a mid-way between utilitarianism and individualism on modern bases. Mill explained that the difference between pain and pleasure can be measured through quality measures. Utilitarianism is an English philosophy. It is a theory of morality. It is a tradition of ethical philosophy. It advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that cause unhappiness or harm, when directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions

5. Utilitarianism considers the interests of all humans equally. Though Utilitarianism is one of the most powerful and persuasive approaches to normative ethics in the history of philosophy. But this concept was not articulated until the 19th Century. Utilitarianism means the doctrine, expounded by Jeremy Bentham, that the moral and political rightness of an action is determined by its utility, defined as its contribution to the greatest good of the greatest number . Utilitarian approach to political obligation means the habitual obedience of the people to the laws of the State because of its utility to promote the general happiness of the greatest number of people.

6. Objectives of the State according to Utilitarianism In the utilitarian State, political obligation depends upon the objectives of the State. When the State sought to promote general welfare of the people, the people are obliged to obey the laws made by the State. The State exists for the individual. But the individual does not exist for the State. Therefore , the State cannot absorb the individual. That means it is not purely supports individualism and idealism.

7. The main object of the utilitarianism is enlightened benevolence . Enlightened Benevolence Everyone seeks pleasure and avoids pain. Utilitarianism has an ethical appeal. Utilitarian approach to political obligation does not separate individual from the society. It blends the individual happiness with the happiness of others. This is called the philosophy of enlightened benevolence

8. Bentham made his explanations in his famous work Fragmentation of Government and Introduction to the principles of moral and legislation . He said that the true end of the State was to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number. In his theory the following issues are the most important. They are: Mankind placed between two sovereign masters According to Bentham, Nature itself has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, namely Pain and Pleasure. So, he said that it is the duty of the State or the State is necessary to the individual to maximize his pleasure and minimize his pain. More over according to him utility is the property in any object whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, happiness or to prevent happening of mischief, pain, evil or unhappiness

9. Sanction According to Utilitarianism the business of the government is to promote the happiness of the society. If there is any disturbance the State has every power to punish the culprits. Bentham distinguished four sanctions like physical/natural, religious, moral and political. The Physical or Natural Sanction comprises the pains and pleasures which we may experience or expect, in the ordinary course of nature, not purposely modified by any human interposition The Moral Sanction comprises such pains and pleasures as we experience or expect at the hands of our fellows, prompted by the feeling of hatred or good will, or contempt or regard; in a word, according to the spontaneous disposition of each individual. The sanction may also be styled popular; the sanction of public opinion or of honour , or the sanction of the pains and pleasures of sympathy

10. The Political Sanction comprises such pains and pleasures as may experience or expect, at the hands of the magistracy, acting under law. This might, with equal propriety, be termed the legal sanction. The Religious Sanction comprises such pains and pleasure as we may experience or expect, in virtue of the forebodings and promises of religion. Here, Bentham said that men obey the laws of the State because the probable mischief of obedience is less than the probable mischief of disobedience.  

11. Pain and Pleasure could be calculated on Felicific Calculus According to Bentham there are two kinds of pleasures and pains are there. They are: Simple pleasures or those which cannot be resolved into other (as the pleasures of senses, wealth, skill, amity, good name, power, piety, benevolence, malevolence, memory, imagination, expectation, assistance and relief etc.) and Complex pleasures are those which can be resolved into various simple ones. Simple pains are privation, awkwardness, enmity, ill-repute, benevolence, malevolence, memory, imagination, expectation and association. Complex pains are those which can be resolve into simple ones

12. According to Bentham, pleasure or pain could be arithmetically calculated by taking into account seven factors, namely: Intensity (more or less efficaciousness) Duration (longer or shorter life) Certainty (consideration of definiteness or indefiniteness) Propinquity (consideration of nearness or remoteness of time) Purity (accompaniment of all pleasure or pain) Fecundity (capacity of being productive or barren) and Extensiveness (the number of persons fallen under influence)

13. Utilitarianism rejects Natural rights and Social Contract theory Bentham utilitarianism rejected the dogma of natural rights. He regarded the natural rights as ‘rhetorical nonsense upon stilt'. Rights are created not by nature, but by law (men made law). Need not the contract, is the basis of state. People obey law because it aims at four ends, viz., security, substance, abundance and equality. Government exists because they promote happiness of the people, but not because of any social contract

14. The greatest good of the greatest number This is the most important formula of Bentham Utilitarianism. It is the central idea of this theory. Each government is obliged to adopt such policies which could give the greatest good of the greatest number. A government which works for the good of a few numbers is not at all a good government. It is tyranny and unjustifiable government. Thus the principle of ‘the greatest good of the greatest number' is benevolent and universalistic shape.

15. Bentham regarded State as law-making agency. According to him, the State is a group of persons organized for the promotion and maintenance of happiness; but for this end, it acts through law. By means of law, the State rewards or punishes so that the happiness is increased and the pain decreased. According to him, the law should take cognizance of bad actions and inflict punishment on the people so that the net balance of pleasure is increased and that of pain decreased. Mere morality is not sufficient and unless law comes into operation, bad things cannot be out of place. Only law being the command of the sovereign can secure habitual obedience of the people.