Question

Who amongst the following enunciated the principle: “It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong ?”

• A. Jeremy Bentham
• B. James Mill
• C. Robert Owen
• D. F.A. Hayek

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

In the realm of legal studies and philosophy, the principle stating “It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong” is attributed to Jeremy Bentham. He was an English philosopher and the founder of modern utilitarianism, a theory in normative ethics. Utilitarianism promotes the idea that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness. Bentham's approach was to evaluate actions based on their consequences, specifically whether they increase or decrease happiness.

Bentham's principle is a central tenet of his utilitarian philosophy, emphasizing the importance of outcomes in moral judgements and the aim of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people. While other thinkers like James Mill, Robert Owen, and F.A. Hayek contributed significantly to social and economic thought, it was Bentham who explicitly formulated this principle of utility as a standard for determining the morality of actions.