Jeremy Bentham 
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation 

First published in 1789, Jeremy Bentham’s best-known work remains a classic of modern philosophy and jurisprudence. Its definitions of the foundations of utilitarian philosophy and its groundbreaking studies of crime and punishment retain their relevance to modern issues of moral and political philosophy, economics, and legal theory.

Based on the assumption that individuals seek pleasure and avoid pain, Bentham’s utilitarian perspective forms a guide to moral decision-making. With the ‘greatest happiness of the greatest number’ as his objective, the author attempts to identify the sources and varieties of pleasure and pain as well as the ways in which they can be measured in assessing moral options. Considerations of intentionality, consciousness, motives, and dispositions support Bentham’s arguments. The text concludes with his survey of purpose and the role of law and jurisprudence, a fascinating exercise in the theory of social reform that explores conflicts between the interests of the majority and individual freedom.

Table of Content

I. Of the Principle of Utility

II. Of Principles Adverse to that of Utility

III. Of the Four Sanctions or Sources of Pain and Pleasure

IV. Value of a Lot of Pleasure or Pain How to be Measured

V. Pleasures and Pains, Their Kinds

VI. Of Circumstances Influencing Sensibility

VII. Of Human Actions in General

VIII. Of Intentionality

IX. Of Consciousness

X. Of Motives

1. Different senses of the word Motive

2. No Motives either constantly good or constantly bad

3. Catalogue of Motives corresponding to that of Pleasures and Pains

4. Order of pre-eminence among Motives

5. Conflict among Motives

XI. Of Human Dispositions in General

XII. Of the Consequences of a Mischievous Act

1. Shapes in which the mischief of an Act may show itself

2. How intentionality, &c. may influence the mischief of an Act

XIII. Cases unmeet for Punishment

1. General view of cases unmeet for Punishment

2. Cases in which Punishment is groundless

3. Cases in which Punishment must be inefficacious

4. Cases where Punishment is unprofitable

5. Cases where Punishment is needless

XIV. Of the Proportion Between Punishments and Offences

XV. Of the Properties to be Given to a Lot of Punishment

XVI. Division of Offences

1. Classes of Offences

2. Divisions and sub-divisions

3. Genera of Class I.

4. Advantages of the present method

5. Characters of the five classes

XVII. Of the Limits of the Penal Branch of Jurisprudence

1. Limits between private Ethics and the art of Legislation

2. Jurisprudence, its branches