Political Science 1020E Chapter Notes -Jeremy Bentham

23 views3 pages

Document Summary

Justifying the state: utilitarianism, the principles of fairness. Sooner or later, among any fairly sizeable group of people, life in the state of nature will become intolerable that we have no alternative to the state acts as negative justification we cannot think of anything better. An argument showing a positive moral reasoning to show our duty to obey the state. Humans not naturally under the authority of any other person. The only way of coming under another person"s authority is to give that person your consent. State is justified if and only if every individual over which it claims authority has consented. We should aim to maximize the sum total of happiness in society. State is justified if and only if it produces more happiness than any alternative. The fundamental idea of utilitarianism is that the morally correct action in any situation is that which brings about the highest possible sum of utility. (utility= happiness, pleasure, or satisfaction of desires)

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents