Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was an English philosopher and liberal social reformer best known as the founder of utilitarianism based on the greatest happiness principle, that is, rationally judging the success of a law by considering how many people it makes happy. Bentham defined happiness as the presence of pleasure and absence of pain – criteria also applied to define moral behaviour.
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Definition
Timeline
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1748 - 1832Life of the English philosopher and founder of utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham.
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15 Feb 1748Jeremy Bentham is born in Spitalfields in London.
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1776Jeremy Bentham publishes his A Fragment on Government.
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1787Jeremy Bentham publishes his A Defence of Usury.
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1789Jeremy Bentham publishes his thoughts on utilitarianism in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation.
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1791Jeremy Bentham publishes his Panopticon.
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1800Jeremy Bentham publishes his Manual of Political Economy.
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1823Jeremy Bentham founds the Westminster Review.
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6 Jun 1832Jeremy Bentham dies in London.
