Question

Bentham’s Principle Of Utility su

Answer 1

The principle of utility: Jeremy Bentham

In an introduction to the principles of morals and legislation, Jeremy Bentham major work of this early period he describes utility as” that property in any object” which” tends to produce benefit,advantage good or happiness” Bentham called this the principle of utility also known as the greatest happiness principle it is often expressed as as” good for greatest number” Good is defined in terms of pleasure and happiness.

1. Recognises the fundamental role of pain and pleasure in human life.
2. Approve or disapprove of an action on the basis of the amount of pain or pleasure brought about that is consequences.
3. Equals the good with the pleasurable and evil with pain.
4. Asserts that pleasure and pain are capable of quantification and hence of measure.

As with the emerging theory of capitalism in 18th and 19th century England, we could speak of pleasure as pluses and pains as minuses .Thus the utilitarian would calculate which actions bring about more pluses or minuses. In measuring pleasure and pain when he introduces the following criteria: its intensity duration, certainty or uncertainty and its nearest or fairness. He also includes its fecundity and its purity. in considering actions that affect numbers of people we must also account for their extent. As a social reformer Bentham applied this principle to the laws of England, for example those areas of the law concerning crime and punishment. An analysis of theft reveals that it not only causes harm to the victim but also if left and punished it endangers the very status of private poverty and the stability of society. In saying this the legislator should devise a punishment that is useful in deterring theft. but in matters of private morality such as sexual preference and private behaviour Ben 10 felt that it was not at all useful to involve the Legislature

Bentham also thought that the principle of utility could apply to our treatment of animals. The question is not whether they can talk or reason but whether they can suffer. as such that suffering should be taken into account in our treatment of them. Here we can see a moral ground for loss that aims at the prevention of cruelty of animals .