Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill and Liberalism Flashcards
Bentham’s political philosophy went beyond theories, concepts and analysis to include what?
behavior, institutions and detailed reform
What was Bentham’s guiding principle?
that it was practical results which justified theoretical study
Bentham’s principle of utility attempts to unite?
theory and practice
Bentham’s first published work “Fragment on Government” appeared when?
1776
In his first work he expressed the belief that it is…?
“the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong”
What basic theory did Bentham lay down in his “Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation”?
nature dictates that mankind is ruled by pleasure and pain, and these determine what we do and what we ought to do
Bentham used the theory of utility to attack orthodox thought and contemporary practice. What is meant by utility?
Utility is a critical standard by which to judge existing institutions in order to reform them
What did Bentham refer to as “the motive”?
the cause all human actions
The motive is always…?
the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain
What did Bentham say about pleasure?
- it is the sole motive
- it alone is good
What were Bentham’s views of government?
- the proper purpose of government is the greatest happiness of the community
- the actual state of affairs is one in which the rulers pursue their own interest in conflict with this
A representative system for Bentham, is?
the only form of government which can protect the individual and in which there is security for good government ?
In Bentham’s representative government an…?
identity is created between the representative body and the community and the representative body is supreme
What were the main additional checks to the defects and abuse of government?
Freedom of the press and distrust of government
Mill’s “Remarks on Bentham’s Philosophy” was published when?
1833
In his article Mill’s stated that Bentham’s great fault was that he…?
limited the judgement of an action simply to an evaluation of its consequences and in doing so had ignored the relationship
What was Mill’s view on pleasure?
he felt that pleasures are not all of a kind; people are not mere animals and the notion of pleasure must take into account this distinction
For Mill’s the pursuit of happiness was?
the pursuit of higher pleasure
Mill’s defines higher pleasure as?
- personal affection
- social feeling
- art
- poetry
- history
- mental culture generally
For Mill’s the standard of morality is?
the happiness of all concerned
Mill’s modified his utilitarianism and?
gave it a distinctly liberal character
Mill’s view of the value of freedom and the proper relationship between the individual and society appeared where?
in his best known work, “On Liberty” published in 1859
