Que) Examine the contribution of Bentham to political thought.
Ans) Bentham’s contribution and importance
Bentham’s ideology has a very important place in the history of political thought. Even if his philosophy lacks originality, it cannot be denied that he gave a new direction to practical politics on the basis of his realism and practical reformism. His important contributions are as follows.
Presentation of utilitarianism-
Bentham’s first contribution is to establish utilitarianism as a philosophical sect and to give it a scientific form. Although before Bentham, the principle of utility had been propounded in overt or covert form by thinkers like David Hume, Priestley, Hutcheson, Paley, Halbank and Halevitius, but there was a need to give a classical and systematic form to this old principle and make it a popular and powerful ideology. The credit for its creation goes to Bentham only. In Maxey’s words, “The idea of utility was a very old and well- known one. Bentham did not discover it… but he and his followers furnished it with the instruments of science and gave it a wonderful bag of utility.”
Realistic perception regarding the work and objectives of the state-
His second contribution was the development of a new theory regarding the function and purpose of the state. Before Bentham, the state and its functions were considered from an idealistic point of view, but Bentham shook the roots of this imaginary political theory and provided a practical basis of ‘maximum happiness of the maximum number of people’ for the criteria of the state’s actions. Maxi has rightly written that even the people who reject and ridicule the criterion of happiness and sorrow propounded by Bentham of utilitarianism cannot ignore his principle that the justification of the government and its rights is determined by this fact. How much impartial and clear happiness she is providing to the people and how much service she is providing to them.
Reforms in law and justice system-
Bentham’s most important contribution is to law and justice system. Is in the area. Probably no other person has done as much work as he did in this field. Due to his efforts, simplicity and clarity came in the law and there was a lot of improvement in the administration of justice. Due to his emphasis on codification of law, legal codes were created in many countries in the 19th century and it was due to his efforts that the first reform law of Parliament was passed in 1832. All the people who agitated for reform in the British Parliament kept getting inspiration from it and many reform laws related to appointment to government posts through competitive examination, poor law and public health and cleanliness can be said to be the result of that inspiration. Due to his pioneering work in the legal and judicial fields, he has secured a very high place in the history of legal and judicial reforms.
To strengthen democracy –
Bentham has strengthened democracy by supporting freedom of the press, secret ballot, adult franchise, etc. He opposed the House of Lords and hereditary rights. Bentham emphasized the principle that the government should justify its day-to-day policies and conduct in front of public opinion. Bentham was of the firm opinion that the state should not be a means of achieving the selfish interests of a handful of people, it should be made a means of general public interest and public welfare.
To create stability in British political life-
From the point of view of practical politics, an important contribution of Bentham is to maintain stability in British political life. After the French Revolution, there was a flood of revolutions all over Europe and noisy scenes in the British House of Commons also became a daily occurrence. People like Don K. Duston also started saying that no great objective can be accomplished without passion. It is possible. In such a situation, Bentham emphasized that reform was more desirable than revolution and thus kept British politics safe from revolution. Due to the reforms proposed by Bentham, the British understood that all controversial questions should be resolved peacefully and the method of counting them is better than breaking the ends.
Importance of research and investigation in the field of politics-
A very important contribution of Bentham is to propound the trend of examination, research and investigation in the field of politics and political science and make them important. Till the time of Bentham, it was believed that good governance could be done on the basis of old tradition, common sense and intuition, but Bentham emphasized that before adopting any new policy or institution in politics, all related areas should be consulted. Facts should be collected and committees and commissions should be established to investigate the disputed questions, and only after such thorough investigation should any action be taken. Thus, Bentham introduced experimental, empiricist and critical approach in political life and after Bentham, this approach has been accepted by all countries and parties.
He also had a deep impact on the intellectual class of his time. James Mill, John Austin, John Stuart Mill, etc. are his contributions. Not only England, but also Russia, Portugal, Spain, Mexico and various countries of South America were highly impressed by his talent and he was highly respected in the international arena. Hazlitt’s statement is true to a great extent that “His name is less famous in England, more famous in Europe and most famous in the plains of Chile and the mines of Mexico. He has provided the new world with a constitution and laws for the future.”
Conclusion:-
Keeping in view the above mentioned contributions of Bentham, Mill has written that “He should be given a place among the most intelligent and great teachers of mankind because he has provided ideas of eternal value to mankind.