hedonistic utilitarianism

The theory that the validity of a law should be measured by determining the extent to which it would promote the greatest happiness to the greatest number of citizens.

• This theory is found most prominently in the work of Jeremy Bentham, whose “Benthamite utilitarianism” greatly influenced legal reform in 19th-century Britain. Hedonistic utilitarianism generally maintains that pleasure is intrinsically good and pain intrinsically bad. Therefore, inflicting pain, as by punishing a criminal, is justified only if it results in a net increase of pleasure by deterring future harmful behavior.

— Also termed Benthamism. See utilitarian-deterrence theory; BENTHAMITE. Cf. RETRIBUTIVISM.

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词条贡献者

资深译员陈鹏，毕业于国内顶尖的高级翻译学院，擅长翻译各类与全球贸易及投资相关的法律文件。