The English Utilitarians, Volume 1 (of 3)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27597

Title

The English Utilitarians, Volume 1 (of 3)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Leslie Stephen offers a comprehensive history of the English Utilitarian school, tracing its influence from Jeremy Bentham through James and John Stuart Mill. Blending biography with political analysis, this volume explores the school's practical applications in law, economics, and social reform, revealing how their doctrines shaped nineteenth-century English thought and action.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The English Utilitarians, Volume 1*, Leslie Stephen provides a comprehensive historical account of the English Utilitarian school, a group that dominated English intellectual and political life for three generations. As a former disciple of the movement, Stephen prioritizes biography and social context over abstract philosophy, arguing that Utilitarianism was a practical creed embodied in political action rather than mere theoretical speculation. The work begins by examining the political conditions of the era, including the British constitution, the ruling class, legislation, the army and navy, the Church of England, and the universities. Stephen contrasts the English Utilitarians with their Scottish counterparts, noting that while the Scots offered greater philosophical depth, the English were distinguished by their energetic activism and focus on practical social problems such as pauperism, education, and the slave trade. The narrative centers on the school's successive leaders: Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, and John Stuart Mill. Stephen details Bentham's life, his codification of law, his advocacy for parliamentary reform, and his complex relationship with the Church. He highlights Bentham's unique, precise style and his 'greatest happiness' principle, illustrating how utility served as a compass for legislation and evidence. A significant portion of the text analyzes Bentham's *Rationale of Evidence*, where he argues that no evidence should be excluded with the intention of obtaining a right decision, a stance that challenged the arbitrary and technical rules of English lawyers. Stephen praises Bentham's sincerity and the clarity of his arguments, even if his prolix style was sometimes tiresome. Stephen argues that while the specific doctrines of the school may seem dated, their method of applying reason to practical problems and their focus on social conditions remain significant. The book serves as both a historical record and a defense of the school's enduring relevance in understanding the evolution of English political philosophy. By focusing on the men actively engaged in framing political platforms rather than philosophers meditating on abstract concepts, Stephen demonstrates how the Utilitarian creed was dependent on theories that were often latent but virtually implied in the party's concrete applications. The work ultimately portrays the Utilitarians as a sect united by a common method of treating general problems, driven by a desire to reconcile intellectual idiosyncrasies with the realities of social environment and human passions.

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Categories

• Philosophy
• History