Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832), philosopher and reformer, is one of the most influential thinkers of the modern age. This introduction to his writings presents a representative selection of texts authoritatively restored by the Bentham Project, University College London. As well as more familiar pieces on utility, law, and politics/policy, highlights include the succinct essay “On Retrenchment” and a never-before-published treatise on sex. The volume is completed by major interpretative essays by Mark Canuel, David Lieberman, Jennifer Pitts, and Philip Schofield.
The texts included in the book are:
-Sex
-An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and
Legislation, Preface and Chapters 1–5
-Place and Time
-Rationale of Judicial Evidence, Specially Applied to
English Practice, Book 1, Chapter 1
-Constitutional Code Rationale, Chapters 1 and 2
-Pannomial Fragments
-Panopticon, or, the Inspection-House, Letters 1, 2,
and 6
-Of Publicity
-Manual of Political Economy, Chapters 1 and 2
-Nonsense Upon Stilts (excluding the Observations
on Sieyes)
-On Retrenchment
Stephen Engelmannis associate professor of political science, University of Illinois, Chicago.
This excellent collection ought to be in the library of every scholar working on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century law, public policy, and the public sphere. It brings together a superb introduction, carefully established texts, and illuminating essays. —Frances Ferguson, author ofPornography, The Theory: What Utilitarianism Did To Action