Benthamism

American  

[ben-thuh-miz-uhm, -tuh-] / ˈbɛn θəˌmɪz əm, -tə- /

noun

1. the utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham.

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Benthamism British  

/ ˈbɛnθəˌmɪzəm /

noun

1. the philosophy of utilitarianism as first expounded by Jeremy Bentham in terms of an action being good that has a greater tendency to augment the happiness of the community than to diminish it

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Other Word Forms

• Benthamite
  noun
• Benthamic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of Benthamism

First recorded in 1820–30; Bentham + -ism

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Benthamism

But what was the message which could reach a hard-headed young 'lawyer by nature' with a turn for Benthamism?

From The Life of Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, Bart., K.C.S.I. A Judge of the High Court of Justice by Sir Leslie Stephen

Typical, too, of the later Benthamism is his glorification of reason as the great key which is to unlock all doors.

From Political Thought in England from Locke to Bentham by Harold Joseph Laski

It was finally bought by Perronet Thompson, and ceased for a time to be the official organ of Benthamism.

From The English Utilitarians, Volume II (of 3) James Mill by Sir Leslie Stephen

Here, indeed, as elsewhere Locke is the true progenitor of Benthamism, and his work can hardly be understood save in this context.

From Political Thought in England from Locke to Bentham by Harold Joseph Laski

Benthamism, he says to himself, stands for individualism.

From Recent Developments in European Thought by Various

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