Exposition and Analysis of the Formation and Shaping of the Foundations of Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarianism (1748-1832)

Abstract

Hedonism, with its various forms and types of pleasure, has been endorsed, criticized, and challenged by many moral philosophers throughout history. One of the most popular and influential ethical schools, particularly in Western culture, is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an advanced and progressive form of hedonism, surpassing the previous hedonistic schools of Aristipus and Epicurus. Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was the exposer and promoter of the utilitarian school and was able to take this school out of a purely theoretical state and put it into practice in society, as well as in current governmental and legislative systems. Despite its numerous supporters, this famous and influential theory has always been subject to criticism, flaws, and shortcomings. In books, theses, and various articles, influential and impressionable scholars and philosophers have discussed their views on utilitarianism in a scattered manner, but no independent research has addressed this issue. The purpose of this article is to collect and organize 25 of these personalities from various sources, and to explain, analyze, and somewhat critique the formation and shaping of the foundations of Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism.