ABSTRACT
Bentham (1748-1832), jurist, economist and social reformer, was the leader of the group of ‘Philosophical Radicals’ who espoused the doctrine of utilitarianism, which defined virtue in terms of utility. ‘The greatest happiness of the greatest number’ was accepted as the true goal of society. This philosophy had roots in early Greek thought and had been developed in the writings of some of Bentham’s contemporaries.
