Jeremy Bentham Jeremy Bentham was an English Utilitarian and leader of the Philosophical Radicals of England. The Philosophical Radicals were a group of like minded individuals that believed in political radicalism through Utilitarianism which stated that decisions should be made on behalf of who it would help the most. Instead of a rational approach to decisions or a idealistic approach. He was born Houndsditch, London England to a father who was a lawyer. He entered college at the ripe old age of twelve and graduated at an elderly fifteen. Bentham did not enjoy speaking in public much so he turned to writing I would imagine that since he was so young and gifted he would feel slighted when speaking in public to older crowds. He was raised as a Torie which were a conservative band of monarchists in the House of Commons in England, they believed in an established church, royal authority and wanted to preserve the traditional political structure. They also strongly opposed parliamentary reform. Bentham changed his conservitaive views after he read The First Principles of Government and the Nature of Political, Civil, and Religious Liberty a book by Joseph Priestly. David Hume also influenced Bentham, after reading Hume’s literature Bentham argued that the proper objective of all conduct and legislation is the greatest happiness of the greatest number. In other words the minority was not a priority in Bentham’s thought process. In 1798 Bentham wrote Principles of International Law where he argued that universal peace could only be obtained by first achieving European Unity. He hoped that some form of European Parliament would be able to enforce the liberty of the press, free trade, the abandonment of all colonies and a reduction in the money being spent on armaments. In some of Bentham’s other writings he criticized “jury packing” and the judges ability to use some of the period laws to in the interest of Government and not the people who elected the officials. He also in his writing criticized the authorities for using law to punish “Radicals” for their outspoken views on the ruling class. Radical reformers such as Sir Francis Burdett, Leigh Hunt, William Cobbett, and Henry Brougham held Bentham’s works in high regards and even went as far as trying to teach his works and ideas to the working class citizens. Sir Francis Burdett eventually argued in the House of Commons over universal suffrage, vote by ballot and other political issues of the time using the ideas he had gained from Bentham’s writings. In eighteen twenty four Jeremy Bentham along with James Mill founded the Westminster Review which was a journal for Philosophical Radicals. Bentham's most detailed account of his ideas on political democracy appeared in his book Constitutional Code (1830). In this book he argued that reform should be based on the happiness of the majority of the people affected by the reform. The book also argued that there should be no, King, no House of Lords and no established church, he further argued that men and women alike should have the right to vote. I pioneer of this philosophy to say the least. Furthermore in his book he argued that politicians should be selected by competitive examination and that there was regular attendance at the House of Commons meetings. Jeremy Bentham in his book also suggested that there should be a continual inspection of the job that elected officials were doing and that they should be continually reminded that they are the servants of the public and not the masters. I believe that in today’s political atmosphere Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy would work, although I do not agree with all of his views I do believe politicians need to be reminded that they work for the public not vice versa. Bibliography
Staff Contributors. Spartacus Educational . 5 11 2012. Print. 05 11 2012.