Comments on: Jeremy Bentham

By: Jane Skudder

Jane Skudder — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 21:53:40 +0000

One of my heroes was also a bit of a polymath with some ideas ahead of his time. Lewis Carroll was, of course, a mild-mannered mathematician and pioneering photographer as well as a children’s author. He also wrote pamphlets on proportional representation and anti-vivisectionism. (I may have just made that word up).

By: Danivon

Danivon — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 02:03:52 +0000

When Ms Danivon & I went to Ireland, we visited Kilmainham Gaol. The original parts were built as directed by Howard in 1796. One wing was later torn down and replaced by a Bentham panopticon. So it was built, and used.

You will all have seen it – it was used to film the original ‘Italian Job’

By: Richard W. Symonds

Richard W. Symonds — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 15:15:49 +0000

May I recommend “Teach Yourself Philosophy” by CEM Joad.

By: Richard W. Symonds

Richard W. Symonds — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 04:25:42 +0000

Fair comment

By: Skuds

Skuds — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 01:10:34 +0000

I am not worried about the paper qualification. I just think I would have enjoyed having a couple of years to read all those books and discuss them and think about them.

What little reading I manage to do now is a poor substitute.

All the drink, drugs and student sex would have been nice too

By: Richard W. Symonds

Richard W. Symonds — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:12:26 +0000

Anybody who asks “Why?” (and sticks around for answers) is already a philosopher, Skuds, so I shouldn’t worry about the paper qualification.

By: Skuds

Skuds — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:29:48 +0000

By coincidence the subject of utilitarianism is touched on by Mark Vernon in today's Guardian, and also the futility of trying to measure happiness. I think that Bentham had the right big idea, but was more than a bit blinkered in his application of it. But of course he was a product of his time. Had I not failed miserably at my A levels I was going to study philosophy. Sometimes I wish I had done that.

By: el tom

el tom — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 01:52:06 +0000

Hmm. he also invented the utility monster as a consequence of his great moral vision. what if it gives someone 2 times the pleasure to eat somebodies baby than it gives the person to keep the baby alive?

That’s why Mill and his pals had to invent ‘rule utilitarianism’, which ended up developing into the same moral ambiguity that existed before.

hmm.

Bentham was also a great legal mind.