Jeremy Bentham

Sociology

(noun)

An English founder of utilitarianism who was influential in designing the first modern prisons.

Related Terms

Political Science

(noun)

Jeremy Bentham was an English philosopher, jurist and social reformer. He is regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism.

Related Terms

Examples of Jeremy Bentham in the following topics:

  • Is Economics a Science?

    • Early writings are attributable to Jeremy Bentham, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill and his son John Mill and are focused on human welfare and benefits rather than capitalism and free markets .
    • John Stuart Mill, along with David Ricardo, Jeremy Bentham and other political and social philosophers of the mid-nineteenth century are credited with the founding of the social-political theory that has evolved to be the discipline of economics.

  • References

    • Bentham, Jeremy, edited by Stark, W.
    • Jeremy Bentham's Economic Writings, Volume III, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd.: London, 1954.
    • Bentham, Jeremy.
    • Your Mythic Journey, Jeremy P.

  • Prisons

    • The modern prison system was born in London, influenced by the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham.

  • Defining Public Opinion

    • But it was Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), the famous utilitarian Philosopher, who fully developed theories of public opinion.

  • Voluntary Exchange

    • Jeremy Bentham [1748-1832] attempted to make "utilitarianism" the operative mechanism to improve the welfare of society.
    • Bentham proposed a felicific calculus to make be used.

  • Economic Way of Thinking

    • Jeremy Bentham [1748-1832] is credited with contributing the foundation of "utilitarianism" to economics.
    • Bentham presumed that human behavior was rational and was directed by "felicific calculus," an evaluation of the pains and pleasures associated with each choice.
    • In Bentham's words:
    • Mill was an admirer and proponent of both Bentham and David Ricardo.
    • Bentham's utilitarianism and classical economics coupled with the ideology and politics that accompanied the development of the industrial revolution brought about new perspectives and new problems.

  • Consumer Choice and Utility

    • Jeremy Bentham [1748-1832] formalized "utilitarianism."
    • Bentham seemed to intuitively grasp the notions of total an marginal or incremental utility.

  • Further Reading

  • Further Reading

  • Further Reading