ABSTRACT
In the same way (he goes on in the introduction to Principles of Morals and Legislation) that which tends to increase the total happiness of the individuals .composing a community is the Utility of the said community. Every individual is to count as one and no one as more than one. 4 The aim and intention of all legislation
should be to secure the Greatest Happiness of the Greatest N umber. 1 We must put aside all theories of a supposed Natural Law, or of Ascetic, or even of Sympathetic moralists. We start with Greatest Happiness as our first principle. Like other first principles, it cannot be proved directly, but it cannot be rejected without absurdities.
