Name: An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
Author: Jeremy Bentham
ISBN: 9780198205166

An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation

Jeremy Bentham

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Author Description

An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislations, Jeremy Bentham's best-known work, is a classic text in modern philosophy and jurisprudence. First published in 1789, it contains the important statement of the foundations of utilitarian philosophy and a pioneering study of crime and punishment, both of which remain at the heart of contemporary debates in moral and political philosophy, economics, and legal theory. A new introduction by the leading Bentham scholar F. Rosen, specially written for this edition, provides students with a helpful survey of Bentham's main ideas and an extensive bibliographical study of recent critical work on Bentham.

Menrva's Summary

THE THESIS

This work investigates the foundational principles of utilitarian philosophy and their application to the structure of legislation and criminal justice. Jeremy Bentham, an influential English philosopher and social reformer, presents a systematic framework for evaluating human actions based on the principle of utility, which posits that the greatest happiness of the greatest number is the measure of right and wrong. He utilizes this framework to analyze the nature of pain and pleasure, the classification of offenses, and the rationale for punishment within a legal system.

THE SCOPE MAP

What You Will Find

A comprehensive definition of the principle of utility as the basis for moral and legal evaluation.
A detailed taxonomy of human motives, pleasures, and pains.
A rigorous analysis of the proportionality of punishments relative to criminal acts.
An examination of the relationship between individual interests and the collective welfare of society.

THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE

Experts recognize this text as a foundational document in the development of modern utilitarian thought and legal positivism. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires careful study to fully grasp the author's complex logical structures.

Page Count:
456

Publication Date:
1996-02-29

Publisher:
Clarendon Press

ISBN-10:
0198205163

ISBN-13:
9780198205166

Economics

Philosophy

Legal Theory

Jurisprudence

Ethics

Law Philosophy