bentham’s utilitarianism

who is accepted as the originator of modern utilitarianism?

jeremy bentham

who can the basis of the utilitarianism ethic be traced back to?

ancient greek philosophers like aristotle

what did aristotle believe the main aim of all moral agents was?

the pursuit of happiness

why did bentham want to develop an ethical theory that promoted actions which would benefit the majority of people in society?

because he was a social reformer (particularly prison reform)

what can utilitarianism be seen as within the 19th century?

a 19th century rebellion against strict deontological religious ethics: like natural law

what era is utilitarianism a part of?

the enlightenment era of the 19th century

enlightenment era of the 19th century

it turned western culture away from a basis in god/religion to a more secular culture

what are the 2 developers of utilitarianism?

jeremy bentham (1748-1832) and john stuart mill (1806-1873)

what was bentham’s starting point for utilitarianism?

his belief that everyone wanted to be happy

what was happiness for bentham?

the supreme ethical value or what he called the ‘sovereign good’

why did bentham believe that happiness was the ‘sovereign good’?

because it is good for people to be happy, bentham stated: ‘when happiness is present, we have everything: but when it is absent, we do everything to possess it’