The Influence of Ancient Greek Moral Philosophy on Bentham’s Development of the Principle of Utility: “I Had It from Epicurus, from Carneades,…”

This paper investigates Bentham’s declaration in an unpublished manuscript of the first chapter of Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789) that he “had” the “Principle of Utility” from, among other sources, the ancient Greek philosophers Epicurus and Carneades. The paper confirms Epicurus’ influence on Bentham’s development of the “Principle of Utility” by identifying deep connections and similarities in the philosophical doctrines expressed by Epicurus with Bentham’s views relating to three key issues: the goal in life and what has value for human beings; how human beings make choices to act; and what actions are right or just, and what is justice. The paper also shows that Bentham developed the “Principle of Utility” to satisfy Carneades’ three requirements for any ethical theory: a criterion for choices in every action, what constitutes a right action; grounded on a consideration external to the theory; and adapted to a motivating factor originally present in human nature.