An Introduction to Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
● A social reformer and philosopher
● Saw happiness as pleasure and avoiding pain
● Believed church= too much influence over people- called for separation of
church from state
● Concerned about conditions of hospitals and prisons
● Concerned with injustice for poor- Bentham saw great suffering
● Believed individuals should be equal - Saw exploitation of the poor
● Put forward a moral theory not involving religion
What was happening at the time of Jeremy Bentham?
Enlightenment
➔ Undermined the authority of the church and monarchy
➔ Sought to replace reliance of God- moral reasoning instead
➔ Intellectual, social and cultural change.
Industrial revolution
➔ Radical technological advancements - Britain= workshop of world
➔ Rapid growth of towns and cities
➔ Scientific developments - Began to replace religious ideas
➔ Rich became richer, poor became poorer - deeply concerned Bentham
Jeremy Bentham
● A social reformer and philosopher
● Saw happiness as pleasure and avoiding pain
● Believed church= too much influence over people- called for separation of
church from state
● Concerned about conditions of hospitals and prisons
● Concerned with injustice for poor- Bentham saw great suffering
● Believed individuals should be equal - Saw exploitation of the poor
● Put forward a moral theory not involving religion
What was happening at the time of Jeremy Bentham?
Enlightenment
➔ Undermined the authority of the church and monarchy
➔ Sought to replace reliance of God- moral reasoning instead
➔ Intellectual, social and cultural change.
Industrial revolution
➔ Radical technological advancements - Britain= workshop of world
➔ Rapid growth of towns and cities
➔ Scientific developments - Began to replace religious ideas
➔ Rich became richer, poor became poorer - deeply concerned Bentham
