
Utilitarianism and Distributive Justice
Jeremy Bentham and the Civil Law
P. J. Kelly(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 4. October 1990
Book
Hardback
252 pages
978-0-19-825418-8 (ISBN)
Description
In this book Dr Kelly presents the first full-length exposition and sympathetic defence of Jeremy Bentham's unique utilitarian theory of justice. He rescues Bentham's reputation from crude nineteenth- and twentieth-century caricatures, and develops a sophisticated and subtle interpretation of Bentham's moral theory which places him at the heart of the British Liberal tradition.
Drawing heavily on Bentham's unpublished civil and distributive law writings, classic and recent Bentham scholarship, and contemporary work in moral and political philosophy, Dr Kelly shows how Bentham developed a moderate welfare-state liberal theory of justice with egalitarian leanings, the aim of which was to secure the material and political conditions of each citizen's pursuit of his own conception of the good life in co-operation with others.
This strikingly original interpretation makes a valuable contribution to the growing literature on Bentham's legal and political thought, and develops a utilitarian theory of justice which offers much to contemporary political philosophy.
Drawing heavily on Bentham's unpublished civil and distributive law writings, classic and recent Bentham scholarship, and contemporary work in moral and political philosophy, Dr Kelly shows how Bentham developed a moderate welfare-state liberal theory of justice with egalitarian leanings, the aim of which was to secure the material and political conditions of each citizen's pursuit of his own conception of the good life in co-operation with others.
This strikingly original interpretation makes a valuable contribution to the growing literature on Bentham's legal and political thought, and develops a utilitarian theory of justice which offers much to contemporary political philosophy.
Reviews / Votes
a definite contribution to Bentham scholarship * Times Higher Education Supplement * Kelly has written an ambitious book of rich philosophical interest which will be essential reading for Bentham's intellectual friends and enemies alike * Political Studies * This book makes very full reference to Bentham secondary literature and to current debates in moral and political theory. Reasonably enough, the author expects no previous knowledge of either body or material. Readers ignorant of one of these fields will be reliably and fully informed about the other. Readers knowledgeable about Bentham will still learn something about him and be forced to face new challenges to their ideas. * MIND * Kelly's book has established an important set of issues for Bentham scholarship as well as for utilitarian theory. * Utilitas *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
546 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-825418-8 (9780198254188)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Paul Kelly studied political philosophy at the University of York and from 1987-1989 was Bradley Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School
Author
Associate Research Assistant, Bentham Project; Visiting Research ScholarAssociate Research Assistant, Bentham Project; Visiting Research Scholar, University of Michigan
Content
Psychological hedonism and the basis of motivation; the principle of utility and the criterion of moral judgement; security, expectation and liberty; subsistence, abundance, and equality and the conditions of stability; the security-providing principle; the disappointment-preventing principle and substantive justice.