The Principles of Morals and Legislation: Full and Fine 1781 Edition (Illustrated)

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Jeremy Bentham was a British philosopher, jurist, social reformer and the founder of modern utilitarianism. He is in the row with the greatest thinkers Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, John Keynes, John Locke, and Alfred Marshall.  Their thoughts had strong influence on building the foundation of the United States and its endeavor of open society.

Jeremy Bentham’s aim in writing An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation was to discover the foundations for a scientific approach to penal legislation. Because he found these in human nature, rather than in statutes and precedents, his work is also a book on morals.

Two distinct elements appear in Bentham’s theory. The first is a psychology of motivation according to which all the actions of people are directed toward pleasures or away from pains. The second is a principle of social ethics according to which each person’s actions ought to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of persons. That the two principles are independent in their origin and application is not altered by the fact that happiness, according to Bentham, consists in nothing other than pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

In An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, Jeremy Bentham argued the foundations for a scientific approach for legislation. In Bentham’s view, the psychology of motivation of people are directed toward pleasures or away from pains. The principle of social ethics ought to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of persons. Because Jeremy Bentham found these in human nature, this book is also a work on morals.

Jeremy Bentham’s work produced great influence on utilitarianism, philosophy, jurist, and economics. His influence has been felt in nearly every field of the humanities and social sciences.

This book is one of the most important ones about the deepest thoughts of usury and monetary policy by Jeremy Bentham, one of the greatest thinkers of modern economics and philosophy on the planet.