Jeremy Bentham

(1747 – 1832)

1. English political philosopher
2. Founder of modern utilitarianism- Greatest Happiness principle- moral actions are those which brings greatest happiness to greatest number
3. Supported legal rights; called natural law and natural rights as “nonsense upon stilts"
4. His famous students- J.S. Mill, Robert Owen
5. Modern Liberal

Books:

1. A fragment on government - 1776
2. Essay on Political Tactics - 1791

Rights:

1. “Rights properly so-called are creations of law properly so called”

State:

1. "the state was an artificial means of producing a unity of interest and a device for maintaining stability; it is a means for attaining the greatest happiness of the greatest number"