This presentation was prepared for the Oral Presentation of University of London. The main target was the audience and the aim was to make it as simple as possible.

1. Topic: Revisiting Bentham’s
utilitarianism
Name: Ibnul Ferdous
SRN: 090486100

2. Utilitarianism
First written widely about
by Jeremy Bentham
Consequential moral
theory
Has an enormous effect on
English practical life and
economics Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham
1748-18321748-1832

3. Bentham’s idea was following:Bentham’s idea was following:
Nature has placed mankind under the governance ofNature has placed mankind under the governance of
two sovereign masters,two sovereign masters, painpain andand pleasurepleasure. It is for. It is for
them alone to point out what we ought to do, as wellthem alone to point out what we ought to do, as well
as to determine what we shall do. On the one handas to determine what we shall do. On the one hand
the standard of right and wrong, on the other thethe standard of right and wrong, on the other the
chain of causes and effects, are fastened to theirchain of causes and effects, are fastened to their throne…throne…
TheThe principle of utilityprinciple of utility recognises thisrecognises this subjection, andsubjection, and
assumes it for the foundation of thatassumes it for the foundation of that system, thesystem, the
object of which is to rear the fabric ofobject of which is to rear the fabric of felicity by thefelicity by the
hands of reason and of law. Systemshands of reason and of law. Systems which attempt towhich attempt to
question it, deal in sounds insteadquestion it, deal in sounds instead of sense, in capriceof sense, in caprice
instead of reason, in darknessinstead of reason, in darkness instead of light.instead of light.
An Introduction to the Principles ofAn Introduction to the Principles of
Morals and LegislationMorals and Legislation (1789)(1789)

5. R v Dudley and Stephens (1884)

8. Criticisms
1. Ignorant to the rights of minority
2. Defines right in terms of good
3. Only concerned with maximising welfare,
not distribution
4. Difficulty in determining ‘real’
preferences

9. This is true regardless of
what we ourselves say
about our preferences.
It is not depended upon
acknowledging its truth
for its being true.
Conclusion

10. This is true regardless of
what we ourselves say
about our preferences.
It is not depended upon
acknowledging its truth
for its being true.
Conclusion