Remarks on Bentham's Philosophy

Classic from the year 2008 in the subject Philosophy - Philosophy of the 19th Century, grade: -, -, - entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: First published in 1833. Excerpt: It is no light task to give an abridged view of the philosophicalopinions of one, who attempted to place the vast subjects ofmorals and legislation upon a scientific basis: a mere outline isall that can be attempted.The first principles of Mr. Bentham's philosophy are these--thathappiness, meaning by that term pleasure and exemption frompain, is the only thing desirable in itself; that all other things aredesirable solely as means to that end; that the production,therefore, of the greatest possible happiness is the only fitpurpose of all human thought and action, and consequently ofall morality and government; and moreover, that pleasure andpain are the sole agencies by which the conduct of mankind isin fact governed, whatever circumstances the individual may beplaced in, and whether he is aware of it or not.Mr. Bentham does not appear to have entered very deeply intothe metaphysical grounds of these doctrines; he seems to havetaken those grounds very much upon the showing of themetaphysicians who preceded him. The principle of utility, or ashe afterward called it, "the greatest-happiness principle," standsno otherwise demonstrated in his writings than by anenumeration of the phrases of a different description whichhave been commonly employed to denote the rule of life, andthe rejection of them all, as having no intelligible meaning,further than as they may involve a tacit reference toconsiderations of utility. Such are the phrases "law of nature","right reason", "natural rights", "moral sense." All of these Mr.Bentham regarded as mere covers for dogmatism, excuses forsetting up one's own ipse dixit as a rule to bind other people.