Benthamism

[ ben-thuh-miz-uhm, -tuh- ]

noun

1. the utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham.

Benthamism

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈBenthaˌmite, nounadjective

Other Words From

• Ben·tham·ic [ben-, tham, -ik, -, tam, -], adjective
• Ben·tham·ite [ben, -th, uh, -mahyt, -t, uh, -], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Benthamism¹

First recorded in 1820–30; Bentham + -ism

Example Sentences

During the eighteenth century Benthamism had gone through its period of incubation.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

The argument shows the way in which his religious beliefs were combined with his Benthamism.

From Project Gutenberg