DSST Ethics in America Practice Exam – Prep, Study Guide & Practice Questions

Jeremy Bentham is the key figure who modified Epicurus's ideas to develop British Utilitarianism, a philosophical approach that evaluates actions based on their consequences in terms of maximizing happiness or utility. Bentham’s framework emphasized the principle of the greatest happiness for the greatest number, which directly draws from the Epicurean notion of seeking pleasure and minimizing pain. He introduced a systematic way to assess moral actions based on their outcomes, laying the groundwork for modern utilitarian thought.

Bentham's ideas went on to inspire later thinkers, including his successor, John Stuart Mill, who refined and expanded upon Bentham's concepts. While other philosophers, such as John Locke, focused on different aspects of ethics or political philosophy, Bentham specifically worked to formalize a utilitarian approach that relates closely to the principles set forth by Epicurus. This connection solidifies Bentham's integral role in the development of utilitarianism and its lasting influence on ethical theory.