A classic of both philosophy and jurisprudence, this 1789 work articulates an important statement of the foundations of utilitarian philosophy. It also represents a pioneering study of crime and punishment. Bentham's reasoning remains ever relevant and central to contemporary debates in moral and political philosophy, economics, and legal theory.

Inhalt

I. Of the Principle of Utility II. Of Principles Adverse to that of Utility III. Of the Four Sanctions or Sources of Pain and Pleasure IV. Value of a Lot of Pleasure or Pain How to be Measured V. Pleasures and Pains, Their Kinds VI. Of Circumstances Influencing Sensibility VII. Of Human Actions in General VIII. Of Intentionality IX. Of Consciousness X. Of Motives 1. Different senses of the word Motive 2. No Motives either constantly good or constantly bad 3. Catalogue of Motives corresponding to that of Pleasures and Pains 4. Order of pre-eminence among Motives 5. Conflict among Motives XI. Of Human Dispositions in General XII. Of the Consequences of a Mischievous Act 1. Shapes in which the mischief of an Act may show itself 2. How intentionality, &c. may influence the mischief of an Act XIII. Cases unmeet for Punishment 1. General view of cases unmeet for Punishment 2. Cases in which Punishment is groundless 3. Cases in which Punishment must be inefficacious 4. Cases where Punishment is unprofitable 5. Cases where Punishment is needless XIV. Of the Proportion Between Punishments and Offences XV. Of the Properties to be Given to a Lot of Punishment XVI. Division of Offences 1. Classes of Offences 2. Divisions and sub-divisions 3. Genera of Class I. 4. Advantages of the present method 5. Characters of the five classes XVII. Of the Limits of the Penal Branch of Jurisprudence 1. Limits between private Ethics and the art of Legislation 2. Jurisprudence, its branches