Phil utilitarianism type beat

Jeremy Bentham: Biography and Legacy

• Bentham was a British philosopher, economist, and lawyer who began law school at a remarkably young age (12-13).

• Known for his utilitarianism principle, which emphasizes:

  • Greatest good for the greatest number of people.

  • Focus on reducing harm and increasing overall happiness.

• His writing was acknowledged as dense and difficult to read, reflecting his complex thoughts.

Contributions to Utilitarianism

• Utilitarianism is a forward-looking ethical theory aimed at improving human welfare and happiness.

• Bentham believed actions should be evaluated on their ability to enhance overall well-being.

• He promoted the idea of measuring happiness—termed hedonic calculus—to evaluate pleasures:

  • Intensity: Strength of pleasure.

  • Duration: How long the pleasure lasts.

  • Certainty: Likelihood of obtaining pleasure.

  • Proximity: How soon pleasure can be attained.

  • Fruitfulness: Whether current pleasure will lead to more pleasures in the future.

  • Purity: Whether pleasure is followed by pain.

• Ethical choices affect broader society, not just individual wellbeing.

Bentham's Death and Body Donation

• Despite being an atheist and somewhat indifferent to traditional burial practices, Bentham wanted his body to contribute to society after his death.

• He requested his body be dissected and then preserved for educational purposes, which was rare at the time for someone of his status.

• He believed that by doing so, he could promote a happier and more informed society.

• Anatomy Act of 1832: Bentham's involvement helped legislate body donations, paving the way to end grave robbery.

Preservation of His Corpse

• Bentham's preservation involved significant controversy and mishaps:

  • His dissection was led by Dr. Southwood Smith, which was unusual for a man of wealth and status.

  • Bentham's head was mummified but poorly preserved, resulting in a disfigured appearance. His actual head was displayed separately from his wax likeness.

• His preserved body is housed at University College London.

Popularity and Cultural Impact

• Despite the initial mishaps with his preservation, Bentham's unusual display of his body has become a source of fascination and public interest.

• Generations have found a morbid curiosity surrounding his antics and his head's preservation, which some describe as grotesque yet entertaining.

• Bentham's legacy continues to inspire discussions on ethics, particularly in non-religious contexts.

Harriet Taylor Mill's Contribution

• Harriet Taylor Mill worked alongside John Stuart Mill on utilitarianism for 20 years, editing and contributing significant insights to his work.

• Much of her influence has been historically overlooked due to gender biases of the time.

• Their collaboration exemplifies the need to acknowledge contributions beyond public perception and existing biases in manner:

  • Growth in the recognition of female philosophers in contemporary discussions.

Utilitarian Principles in Modern Context

• Utilitarianism addresses personal choices and their wider impacts on society:

  • Ethical egoism focuses on self while utilitarianism examines collective happiness.

  • Emphasizes societal effects of individual actions, such as purchasing decisions connected to ethics in labor.

• Bentham's approach encourages a proactive examination of how actions affect others, reinforcing ethical responsibility in personal and societal conduct.

Conclusion

• Jeremy Bentham remains an influential thinker in ethics through his utilitarian philosophies, working towards maximizing overall happiness, and challenging societal norms concerning death and body donation.

• His life serves as a significant case study in moral philosophy, ethics, and the evolution of attitudes toward bodily autonomy and social contributions.