A Fragment on Government: Axiom of the Greatest Happiness of the Greatest Number (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.

As Adam Smith coined the invisible, Bentham in A Fragment on Government proposed the axiom that what the legislator should strive for is "the greatest happiness of the greatest number". Bentham defined the two principles for his political theory: the greatest happiness principle and the self-preference principle.

Bentham noted that rulers always pursued their own happiness and self-preference at the expense of the happiness of the society at large. Bentham argued that a fair political constitution was the answer to regulate the rulers to promote the interests and happiness of the greatest number of people in a country.

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.

If you are looking for the answer that “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”, this book will give you a clue.