Jeremy Bentham – Classical Utilitarianism
UPSC PSIR | Western Political Thought | Utilitarianism – Phase I
1️⃣ INTRODUCTION
Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) is founder of modern utilitarianism.
“Greatest happiness of the greatest number.”
He makes utility the foundation of morality and politics.
2️⃣ PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY
An action is right if it maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain.
- Human beings seek pleasure
- Human beings avoid pain
- Policy must maximize total happiness
3️⃣ HEDONISM
Bentham believes:
- Pleasure is the only good
- Pain is the only evil
He proposes a method to measure pleasure.
4️⃣ HEDONIC CALCULUS
Bentham suggests evaluating actions by:
- Intensity
- Duration
- Certainty
- Propinquity
- Fecundity
- Purity
- Extent
This makes morality scientific.
5️⃣ VIEW ON RIGHTS
Bentham rejects natural rights.
“Natural rights are nonsense upon stilts.”
Rights exist only when created by law.
6️⃣ VIEW ON STATE
- State should maximize public happiness
- Laws must produce utility
- Reform-oriented approach
7️⃣ CRITICISM
- Ignores individual rights
- Quantity over quality of pleasure
- Risk of majoritarian tyranny
MAINS QUESTIONS
- Explain Bentham’s principle of utility.
- Critically evaluate Hedonic Calculus.
- Discuss Bentham’s rejection of natural rights.
QUICK REVISION MAP
- Utility principle
- Hedonism
- Hedonic calculus
- Legal positivism
- Majoritarian logic
Policy = Maximum happiness
Shaktimatha Learning – Utilitarianism Series
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