4.3 Jeremy Bentham and Utilitarianism

The theory of UtilitarianismAn ethical theory that is focused on calculating the consequences of our actions to determine what we should or should not do. argues that the right thing to do is the action that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. You may have even encountered the idea of Utilitarianism through the Star Trek television and film franchise.

Who Was Jeremy Bentham?

Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) was an English philosopher and the founder of Utilitarianism, one of the most influential ethical theories of all time, which was added to by John Stuart Mill.

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that emphasises the importance of the consequences of our actions rather than our intentions or the type of person we are. As such, it is a results-focused consequentialistSomeone who believes that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences. theory rather than a person-focused theory, unlike Aristotle’s virtue ethicsAn ethical theory focused on the development of a virtuous character..

Bentham’s aim was to formulate an approach to ethicsIn Philosophy, the theory and study of morality and how we should behave. where people could practically evaluate moral decisions to determine the right course of action by weighing up the potential consequences.