The founding statement of utilitarianism, holding that actions are right insofar as they promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number. Bentham proposes a 'felicific calculus' to weigh pleasure against pain.
Sources for Bentham — An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
Bentham — An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation in Law
Held in the Law chamber of the Babel Nexus Index.
- Ur-Nammu — The Code of Ur-Nammu (−2100)
- Hammurabi — The Code of Hammurabi (−1750)
- Solon — The Laws of Solon (Plutarch's Life of Solon) (−594)
- Ancient Rome — The Twelve Tables (−449)
- Plato — The Laws (−348)
- Cicero — De Legibus (On the Laws) (−52)
- Justinian — Corpus Juris Civilis (534)
- Medieval England — Magna Carta (1215)
- Bracton — De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliæ (1235)
- Grotius — The Rights of War and Peace (1625)
- Hobbes — Leviathan (1651)
- Locke — Two Treatises of Government (1689)
- Montesquieu — The Spirit of the Laws (1748)
- Beccaria — On Crimes and Punishments (1764)
- Blackstone — Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765)
- Thomas Jefferson — The Declaration of Independence (1776)
- Hamilton, Madison & Jay — The Federalist Papers (1788)
- Kent — Commentaries on American Law (1826)
- Maine — Ancient Law (1861)