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Hello, in 1789 the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham published one of his most important

works in which he developed his theory of utility titled,

an introduction to the principles of morals and legislation.

It's one of the founding texts of modern utilitarianism.

He argued, quote, an action may be said to be conformable to utility when the tendency

it has to augment the happiness of the community is greater than any it has to diminish it.

The aim of government is that it should be the greatest happiness of the greatest number.

His ideas were developed by John Stuart Mill, the son of one of Bentham's closest friends.

They were taken up by further generations of philosophers and the refinements on new

utilitarianism, of ecmended decisions we and governments make today.

With me to discuss utilitarianism are Melissa Lane, the class of 1943 professor of politics

at Princeton University, Janet Radcliffe Richards, professor of practical philosophy at the University

of Oxford and Brad Hooker, a professor of moral philosophy at the University of Reading.

Melissa Lane, how far did the ancient philosophers develop ideas that fed into utilitarianism?

The ancient thought supplies the content of utilitarianism rather than its form.

So if we think the content is the principle of utility, what does that mean by welfare?

And the ancient philosopher Epicurus suggested that that was determined by pursuing pleasure

and avoiding pain.

And that's really the fundamental ancient idea we call it hedonism from the Greek word

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