Jeremy Bentham Biography Essay

Jeremy Bentham was an inc spot philosopher that is primarily known for his philosophical contribution, the ethical hypothesis of utilitarianism (Sweet). Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that states that the best action is the one that brings about the greatest amount of uncorrupted for the greatest number of people (DeGeorge 44). Specifically, Bentham was a hedonistic utilitarian argument that what ultimately motivates us is pleasure and pain (Sweet). Bentham over the course of his carriage gave a lot to the field, whose influence is still seen today.Jeremy Bentham was born into a line of attorneys on February 15, 1748, in the town of Houndsditch, London (Sweet). Bentham studied so intensely, practically eight to twelve hours a day, that when he reached the age of 16 he had already graduated from Queens College at Oxford and was continue in his fathers and grandfathers footsteps to becoming an attorney by studying law at Lincolns indian lodge (Sweet). Although Bentham w as qualified, he never practiced law, but instead chose to write on the philosophy of law and focused on critiquing the existing law and was a weapons-grade advocate for legal reform (Sweet).In 1785, Bentham along with his chum salmon worked on a project called Panopticon, that he hoped would garner the attention of the tsaritsa Catherine the Great (Sweet). Unfortunately, the project, which Bentham hoped would be a model prison where all of the prisoners would be observ qualified by (unseen) guards at all times, was not a great success (Sweet). Even though Bentham was not largely appreciated, he was still able to continue his writings and work with the financial stableness afforded to him from an inheritance. Benthams most notable writing seems to be, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. trine of the biggest principals that run throughout the book, as well as most of Benthams works are the greatest happiness principle, universal egoism, and the artificial den omination of ones interests with those of others (Sweet). Benthams fundamental principle, the greatest happiness principle, says that humane beings motivated by pleasure and deterred by pain is what de conditionines the degree of happiness, which Bentham in any case calls the principle of utility (Sweet). This principle adds a level of objectivity to a very subjective discipline, allowing it to be clearer, more observable, and measurable (Sweet). Bentham also had strong views on the concept of natural rights.According to Bentham, rights or a lack thereof are formed through the law or indoors a legal system where the law is silent and therefore the term natural right is a perversion of language (Sweet). Jeremy Bentham has made a large contribution to the field of ethics through his lifelong fealty to his theory and principles. Bentham coming from a back ground of law was able to quantify ethics in a way that others did not do, allowing it restrain into consideration the greates t number of people.Works CitedDe George, Richard T. Business Ethics. 7th ed. speed Saddle River Prentice Hall, 2010. Print. Sweet, William. Jeremy Bentham (17481832). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 11 Apr. 2001. Web. 25 Jan. 2013. .