The Life and Philosophy of Jeremy Bentham.pptx

This PPT presentation focuses on the life and philosophy of Jeremy Bentham.

1. Jeremy BEntham

2. Bentham’s life: The making of a political reformer 1748-1832, was born in London. Age 12, was sent to Queen’s College, Oxford Graduated in 1763 He was dissatisfied with both the prevailing theoretical foundations of the law and the actual applications of it in the course. He attributed thw political instability of the times to the irrational and chaotic foundations of the current legal systems and social structures. Bentham’s solution was to develop a moral and political philosophy that would come to be known as Utilitarianism .

3. Died on June 6, 1832 In his will he dictated that his body should be dissected for the benefit of science and that it should be preserved and remain on display at the University of London to remind people of his philosophy.

4. Bentham’s task: A scientific foundation for morals and politics Bentham was drawn into philosophy by his extreme dissatisfaction with not only the current state of society but with the theories from which it had developed. He ferociously attacks standard pillars of social theory such as the belief in a natural moral law and the notion of innate, natural human rights. If you ask people to set out the dictates of the natural law or to list our natural rights, you will get numerous conflicting lists, a sign that these notions do not refer to anything objective but are merely subjective preferences. He begins with a theory of psychology, from which he derives a theory of morality and then goes on to apply it to issues of government and social policy.

5. Bentham’s moral philosophy: pleasure is the only source of value “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what shall we do. On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on the other hand the chain of causes and effects, are fastened to their throne.” Utilitarianism Moral Theory Hedonism Psychological Hedonism Ethical Hedonism Consequence/Consequentialism

6. The foundation of Utilitarianism is the principle of utility. Principle of Utility and of the greatest happiness. All behavior should be aim at producing the greatest utility- wellness/happiness. The fundamental moral rule of Utilitarianism is “Act always to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.” Maximize pleasure- for all persons affected Minimize pain- for all persons affected

7. Bentham providew a method to scientifically quantify and calculate the value of different pleasures. This is commonly referred to as Bentham’s “hedonic calculus”. When considering any action, we should evaluate the amount of pleasure or pain it will produce according to the following dimensions. Intensity: How strong is the pleasure? Duration: How long will the pleasure last? Certainty or Uncertainty: How likely or unlikely is it that the pleasure will occur? Propinquity or Remoteness: How soon will the pleasure occur? Fecundity: How likely is it that the proposed action will produce more sensations of the same kind (either pleasure or pain?) Purity: Will it be followed by sensations of the opposite kind? (Will the pain be followed by pleasure or the pleasure by pain?) Extent: How many people will be affected?

8. Bentham’s social philosophy: a scientific guide for reform He urges social planners to discard metaphysical rubbish in politics and law, such as an appeal to “natural moral laws” and “innate rights”. In the following cases according to Bentham, punishment is not justified: Where it is groundless. There is no evil for it to prevent or there is certainty that compensation for thr harm will be forthcoming. Where it is ineffective. Where it cannot prevent evil. Cases of this sort would be where the penalty is established after the act is done, where insufficient steps were taken to make people aware of the law, ot where the agent cound not have been fully aware of what he was doing. Where it is unprofitable or too expensive. Where it would produce more evil than it prevented. Where it is needless. Where the evil will cease of itself or may be prevented with more economical means.