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

Derived Forms

• Benthamite
  noun
• Benthamic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Benthamism

First recorded in 1820–30; Bentham + -ism

Example Sentences

All four groups agreed in this claim for individual freedom, and the humanitarian tendencies of Benthamism were sacrificed to its pedantry.

From A Short History of English Liberalism by Blease, Walter Lyon

Benthamism, he says to himself, stands for individualism.

From Recent Developments in European Thought by Various

The strong points of Benthamism may, I think, be summed up in two words.

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

Sydney Smith was glad to be Bentham's mouthpiece for the moment: though, when Benthamism was applied to church reform, Smith began to perceive that Noodle was not so silly as he seemed.

From The English Utilitarians, Volume I. by Stephen, Leslie, Sir

This, whatever the ultimate truth, is in fact the essential core of all the Utilitarian doctrine descended from or related to Benthamism.

From The English Utilitarians, Volume I. by Stephen, Leslie, Sir