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

• Benthamic adjective
• Benthamite noun

Etymology

Origin of Benthamism

First recorded in 1820–30; Bentham + -ism

Example Sentences

It is not an altogether fanciful comparison if we call the assumptions we have been describing the ancient counterpart of Benthamism.

From Ancient Law Its Connection to the History of Early Society by Maine, Henry Sumner, Sir

I had now completely turned back from what there had been of excess in my reaction against Benthamism.

From Autobiography by Mill, John Stuart

Let Benthamism reign, if men have no aspirations; but do not tell them to be romantic and then solace them with ‘glory:’ do not attempt by philosophy what once was done by religion.

From An Essay In Aid Of A Grammar Of Assent by Newman, John Henry

I often amuse myself by trying to imagine what Bentham would have said of Benthamism expounded by Mill.

From The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, November 1879 by Various

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