An Illustrated Brief History of Western Philosophy, ch. 18

The Utilitarians are taken up in this chapter centering on Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Bentham offered a brand of philosophy that focused morality and law. He believed that there must be 1. moral community, 2. a set of moral values, and 3. a moral code in order for morals to be maintained in society. Though Bentham did much to separate intention and motive, Mill argues that an action is right or wrong regardless of them. Mill softens Bentham and also offers ideas on logic. In particular, his logic is a generalized extension of scientific inquiry.