Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham

Preston Wilkey
Section 4      http://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2016/04/immanuel-kant-and-jeremy-bentham.html

Jeremy Bentham is credited for the traditions of modern day utilitarianism. The decision between what was right and wrong was mostly up to whichever one would bring about the most happiness to those involved which is the complete opposite from Immanuel Kant. He believed what we valued most was pleasure and pain,  and happiness was the pleasure without pain. Bentham's moral philosophy is mostly summed up by what he called "the greatest happiness principle". This principle is that there is a moral obligation for us to do what brings the most happiness to the greatest number of people. This principle is involved with all of our choices and actions and if happiness is not fully achieved then it is wrong morally. I agree with Bentham on his view on our decisions should try and bring the most happiness on the most people but I almost believe there are exceptions to this. I do not think it is morally wrong if a decision is made that does not maximize happiness because I don't think its our personal responsibility to worry about other people's happiness that much. I think a mixture of Kant's and Bentham's view of morally what is right and wrong would be a good thing for society. I think there should be certain rules that cannot be broken and apply across the board like Kant believes, but I also think we should make decisions on what would bring about happiness on the most people. I think this would make the world a nicer and kinder place.