An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, Vol. 1 of 2 (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Jeremy Bentham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0265780446 ISBN 13: 9780265780442

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Explore the foundations of ethical law and punishment with Bentham’s early framework for a rational legal system.

This edition presents a clear, accessible entry point into the principles that guide moral and legislative checks on conduct, focusing on the ends of punishment and how laws should balance harm and utility.

The text surveys how laws are formed, what makes a penalty effective or pointless, and how offenses are categorized. It offers a systematic approach to evaluating punishments, including how different factors influence justice, fairness, and public welfare. The discussion blends theory with practical considerations for constructing coherent legal rules.

• How punishment aims to augment happiness and how to assess its moral purpose
• The conditions under which punishment is or isn’t warranted, and how to measure its usefulness
• Rules for proportioning penalties to offences and for ensuring consistency across cases
• Different classes and divisions of offences, plus the relation between private, semi-public, and public harm

Ideal for readers of classic political philosophy, legal theory, and Bentham’s utilitarian approach to law and governance.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0265780446
• ISBN 13: 9780265780442
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 314