Open AccessRESCUING POLITICS FROM LYING AND HYPOCRISY: UTILITY AND TRUTH IN JEREMY BENTHAM’S THOUGHT
Author(s) -
Benjamin Bourcier
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
ethics, politics and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2184-2582
DOI - 10.21814/eps.2.1.90
Subject(s) - hypocrisy , opposition (politics) , happiness , jeremy bentham , philosophy , value (mathematics) , politics , lying , utilitarianism , epistemology , law and economics , law , sociology , political science , theology , computer science , medicine , machine learning , radiology
As a utilitarian philosopher, Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) devoted mostof his career to create a new institutional setting to promote the greatest happinessof the greatest number on the basis of the principle of utility. In doing so, Benthamcommitted himself not only to the value of utility but also to truth. Truth meantuniversal interest and denouncing all abuses of power and corruptions thatsacrifice the interest of the greatest number. As two opponents of truth, lies andhypocrisy are the symptoms of the sacrifice of the universal interest and directlyoppose the principle of utility. Yet, what is at stake in this opposition? How didBentham value and analyze these two phenomenon? In this paper, I will explainhow Bentham’s commitment against lying and hypocrisy in politics aims tosupport the truth of the utilitarian principle and demonstrates the wrongness ofother moral principles.