International Library of Critical Essays in the History of Philosophy
1 total work
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was the modern father of utilitarian moral and political philosophy and positivism jurisprudence. In recent years the foundations of his thought have been reassessed. These two volumes gather the most influential contributions to this reassessment, including both classic articulations of orthodox interpretations and radical challenges to this orthodoxy. The first volume surveys investigations of Bentham's psychology, his theory of social welfare and the place of equality, justice and rights in it, and his theories of liberty and democracy. The second volume explores Bentham's unique version of legal positivism, especially his critique of common law, his deontic logic and theory of evidence, his analysis of rights, duties and sovereignty and his utilitarian theories of punishment, codification and adjudication.