Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was an English philosopher, legal and social reformer, and founder of utilitarianism.

Biography:

The essence of his moral philosophy is found in the pronouncement of his Principles of Morals and Legislation (written in 1780 and published in 1789), that the object of all legislation should be "the greatest happiness for the greatest number".

He declared that the "utility" of any law is to be measured by the extent to which it promotes the pleasure, good, and happiness of the people concerned.

In 1776, he published Fragments on Government. He made suggestions for the reform of the poor law in 1798, which formed the basis of the reforms enacted in 1834, and in his Catechism of Parliamentary Reform in 1817, he proposed annual elections, the secre t ballot, and universal male suffrage.

He was also a pioneer of prison reform.

In economics Bentham was an apostle of laissez-faire, and in his Defence of Usury in 1787 and Manual of Political Economy in 1798, he contended that his principle of "utility" was best served by allowing every man to pursue his own interests unhindered by restrictive legislation.

Jeremy Bentham was made a citizen of the French Republic in 1792.

Why is Jeremy Bentham famous?

Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher and legal and social reformer.

Jeremy Bentham Lists

	1748 births
	1832 deaths
	English philosophers
	English political philosophers
	Philosophers of law
	Social philosophy
	Utilitarians
	Classical liberals
	Animal rights movement
	English feminists
	Alumni of The Queen's College, Oxford
	University College London
	People associated with University College London
	Old Westminsters
	People from Spitalfields
	Mummies
	British political theorists

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Tags: social reformer, utilitarianism, founder, pioneer, legislation

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Category: Philosophers  - ( Philosophers Archive)

Date Added: 23 October '11

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