Assignment: Jeremy Bentham in utility and the hedonic calculus
Jeremy Bentham (1748 - 1832) was alive at the same time as Kant. Bentham is frequently described as one of the founders of utilitarianism. We will focus mostly on the utilitarianism of John Stuart Mill, but Mill was influenced by Bentham, so it is helpful to begin with a brief look at the utilitarianism of Bentham.
Read the first section of this article to learn about his life. Read the five-paragraph section of this article to about the life of Jeremy Bentham.
Read chapters of Bentham's book, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (originally published in 1789).
Chapter : "Of the Principle of Utility"
Chapter : "Value of a lot of pleasure or pain, how to be measured"
Respond to these questions:
1. As a British thinker who came of age during the enlightenment, Jeremy Bentham believed that he could extend the advances made in science and mathematics to provide a more rational foundation for moral theory and the reform of social institutions. In addition to his emphasis on utility and the hedonic calculus, he is known for his idea of the "panopticon". What is a panopticon? Does it strike you as a good idea? Some people have described our era (in the early 21st century) as the age of the panopticon or the "surveillance society". How does a panotpicon, in which no one knows whether they are being watched, and anyone may be under surveillance at any given time, influence human behavior?
2. The Editor's "Introduction" begins with a distinction between two different kinds of moral theories. What is the distinction drawn on p. vii by the editor (George Sher)? How does Mill's theory of utilitarianism fit into this distinction?
3. What did you learn from the editor's "Introduction" about the life of John Stuart Mill, his father, or his family's relationship with Jeremy Bentham? According to the editor, why is Mill's utilitarianism still the most widely studied text on this topic?
4. In the paragraph that begins with the words "To inquire how far...", Mill gives his first summary of the philosophy of utilitarianism. In what sense is Mill offering a "new" theory? In what sense does he think humans already follow this theory? If so, then why is the theory necessary? What does he think he is adding to the conversation?
5. What do utilitarians mean by utility?
6. What is Mill's account of the relationship between public and private utility?
7. What are the similarities and differences between the first principles of knowledge and of conduct?