Thus, as this initial object is almost impossible to fully achieve, Bentham argues that the subordinate goals of any given justice system should be "if a man must needs to commit an offence of some kind or other […] to induce him […] to choose always the least mischievous of two offences that will either of them suit his purpose," "to dispose him to do no more misheif than is neccesary to his purpose," and finally, to do all of this for cheaply as possible (Bentham 62-63). These subordinate objects are quite revolutionary in that they acknowledge the nuances of human behavior and thought processes by arguing that punishment should be focused not only on preventing offenses, but where that fails, on encouraging individuals to engage in the least destructive offenses possible to meet their desired ends. This is important to note because it demonstrates why Bentham's theory offers a far more productive and ethical standard for justice and punishment than anything offered by religion or traditional standards of behavior. The application of the principle of utility offers a simple, consistent means of judging any given behavior, but rather than simply aiming for an impossible goal, the application of this standard includes within it the recognition that encouraging people to commit the lesser of two offenses is often just as important as attempting to preclude the commission of all offenses in general. Jeremy Bentham's theory of utilitarianism includes important developments in the consideration of punishment, developments which have...
In particular, Bentham's creation of a consistent, humane standard for evaluating human behavior is one of the most important developments in the history of philosophy and criminal justice, but sadly, all too often standards for punishment and justice are based on arbitrary notions of right and wrong with little attention paid to the potential damage caused by certain punishments. By considering the implications of applying the principle of utility to the administration of punishment, one may see how Bentham's theory offers quite possibly the most ethically sound standard of measurement for ensuring the harmony of human society while protecting the autonomy of the individual.
Monopolies and Trusts: Appropriate Areas for Government Intervention? Capitalism is the economic system that has dominated the United States virtually since the day of its independence. A social and economic system based on the recognition of individual rights; capitalism demands that owners' rights to control, enjoy, and dispose of their own property must be respected. In a capitalist system, the purpose of government is to protect individual economic rights, and to make
Utilitarianism and Categorical Imperatives A Comparison of the Theories of Utilitarianism and Categorical Imperatives The principles of Utilitarianism and Categorical Imperatives contradict each other on many fronts. Both provide a rational for making moral decisions, both have benefits and flaws. A compelling argument can be made for each. From my perspective the principal's of Kant exemplify a more ethical way to conduct life. Utilitarianism Utilitarianism as a specific school of thought is generally credited
Ethics of Legalizing Marijuana In recent years, there has been a significant amount of debate as to whether or not the possession and usage of marijuana should be legalized. Several issues revolve around this topic, not the least of which are the perceived and actual effects of this particular narcotic in a psychological, physical, economic, and even social sense. Perhaps one of the best methods for determining a prudent choice of
Banking Fees and Morality Integrating Values: The Legal, Moral, and Social Responsibility of the Government, the Banks, and the Consumers Legal Section Statement of Relevant Legal Principles and Rules of Law Application of Law to Topic and Legal Analysis Ethics Section Utilitarian Ethical Analysis Kantian Ethical Analysis Additional Ethical Analysis Social Responsibility Section Introduction to B. Definition of term "Social Responsibility" Application of Social Responsibility Banking fees in one form or another have existed in the United States hundreds of years, however the
videos is carried out; with each review explaining a particular ethical approach using examples given in respective video watched. From the videos, four major ethical approaches are highlighted in the paper; Kant, Utilitarian, Aristotle's virtue ethics and Confucius. At the end of this work, the reader will be able to understand and distinguish between moral, ethical, values and legal issues. Kant According to Kant, morality is based on a standard of
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