Write a three paragraphs long essay on the topic provided.
How does Bentham's concept of pleasure differ from Mill's?
For what reasons can we imagine that Bentham's theory was regarded as scandalous in its day?
Utilitarianism
- Utilitarianism is the name of a school of moral theory that maintains: - that actions are moral if they produce the greatest benefit - a type of consequentialism Utilitarianism is most opposed to deontological moral theories such as Kantianism.
- Aristotelian and Scholastic notions of a SummumBonnum
- The Social Contract Theory: Hobbes' notion of self-preservation as the primary ‘law of nature' is implicitly utilitarian • David Hume's theory of moral sentiments
Utilitarianism
- Jeremy Bentham (1748 - 1832) - his primary interest was always legal reform - 1776 "A Fragment on Government", which contains his now famous utilitarian principle, "the greatest happiness of the greatest number„ - of the "greatest happiness" simply as the greatest pleasure for all - "felicific calculus".
- John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) - Mills' two most influential works are On Liberty (1859) and Utilitarianism (1863) - defended the notion of free speech - moral authority only extends to actions that affect others - ‘marketplace of ideas'