Jeremy Bentham figured that laws should be socially useful and not merely reflect the status quo. While he believed that men inevitably pursue pleasure and avoid pain, Bentham thought it to be a sacred truth that the greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation. Bentham supposed that morality could be derived from "enlightened self-interest," and that a person who always acted with a view to his own maximum satisfaction in the long run would always act rightly. Bentham is comparable to William Godwin. They resembled one another in their contempt for the past. While each preached the need for nonviolent revolution, each had a different following. Bentham's revolution was to be through legislation, Godwin's through argument. It was in Bentham’s book, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789), that he developed the idea that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should govern our judgment of every institution and action. Basically, he states that we should proceed with legislative action, which in turn will bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number. Influenced by Rousseau, Godwin in turn influenced the English romantics including Shelly and Byron. Godwin believed it was impossible to be rationally persuaded and not act accordingly, and that man could live in harmony without law and institutions. He believed in the perfectibility of man. The two works Godwin is remembered for are An Inquiry Concerning Political Justice (1793) and Caleb Williams (1794).Rousseau was the author of Discours (1755), and, of course, his masterpiece, Contrat social (1762). "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains." And man must "be forced to be free." These were the notions of Rousseau and those who followed him. Rousseau's concept of a social contract (via., that there existed unstated reciprocal obligations between the people and government) is not near as upsetting...
