Скачать или смотреть Jeremy Bentham "All punishment is mischief; all punishment in itself is evil" meaning

When Jeremy Bentham said, "All punishment is mischief; all punishment in itself is evil," he was expressing his skepticism about the value and morality of punishment in society. Bentham, an 18th-century British philosopher and social reformer, was a prominent advocate of utilitarianism, a moral philosophy that emphasizes the maximization of overall happiness and the minimization of suffering.

In Bentham's view, actions should be evaluated based on their consequences, and only actions that promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people are morally justified. With this perspective, Bentham saw punishment as inherently problematic because it causes suffering to the individual being punished, which is in itself an evil or negative outcome.
However, Bentham also recognized that punishment could serve a purpose in deterring crime and maintaining social order. He believed that the only legitimate justification for punishment was its ability to prevent future harm or to provide some greater social benefit. In other words, if the overall consequences of punishment were positive (such as reducing crime or promoting social stability), then it could be justified on utilitarian grounds.

This quote reflects Bentham's nuanced view of punishment: he acknowledges that punishment inherently causes harm and can be seen as evil, but also recognizes that it might sometimes be necessary for the greater good. His utilitarian approach seeks to minimize the use of punishment and ensure that it is only employed when it serves a clear and beneficial purpose.

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