date

1819 Aug. 25. 4 Ch | | Cause & Obstacle
1819 Aug. 25.

4 Ch | | Cause & Obstacle Confounder

Be the person or persons in question who they may, their happiness is increased in proportion as their interest is promoted: the latter phrase is equivalent to, and only for a convenience in the mode of expression substituted to the framers[?]

Proportioned to the number of those whose interest is endeavoured to be served in preference to all others, will under every form of government be the number of those whose interest is thus endeavoured to be preferably promoted.

It is a greater error to suppose that because the greatest happiness of the greatest number ought every where to be the end of government happiness of the greatest number is every where or even any where the end of government: that because the greatest happiness of the those over whom the powers of government are exercised is every where or even any where the end pursued by those by whom the powers of government are exercised. The end pursued by those by whom the powers of government are exercised is every where the greater happiness of those by whom the powers of government are exercised. The happiness /interest/ which on this occasion as on all others, each man pursues /endeavours to promote in/ preference if not to the exclusion, of all others, is his own happiness /interest/.
Similar Items
  • Title: [1819 Aug. 25 Fallacies 5 Ch. | | Cause]
    Description: 1819 Aug. 25

    Fallacies 5 Ch. | | Cause and Obstacle confounder

    Whatever there is in the English Constitution that is conducive to the greatest happiness of the greatest number has formed in such influence as the greatest number have been able to exert its only cause.

    Under the English Constitution the whole of the operating power of the government is divided among /between/ three branches: that of the King, that of the House of Lords and that of the House of Commons.

    Over /On/ the composition of the House of Commons, and on its operations when composed the people have at all times had some influence. In this influence will be found if any where at that is good in the composition of the whole Government if all that is conducive to the universally acknowledged as the only proper and justifiable end /end/.

    Proportioned to the number of those who, each man in an equal proportion, contribute to the choice /determination/ of the persons by whom the immediate power of government are exercised, will be the number of those whose interest in the exercise given to those powers will be endeavoured to be preferably promoted.

    The persons to the promotion of whose interest the exercise of the powers of government is directed will be not only the persons by whom those powers are exercised but also the persons /to/ on whom /whose will/ it depends that they shall be in possession of the exercise of those powers: and upon the will of all those persons over whom the powers are exercised it will depends who shall be in the exercise of those powers, in so far as by a manifestation of their will it is in their power to cause those person to be no longer in possession of the exercise of those same powers.
  • Title: [1819 Aug. 25. Fallacies 6 Ch | | Cause]
    Description: 1819 Aug. 25.

    Fallacies 6 Ch | | Cause & Obstacle confounder

    First as to the Monarch. To shew in what way that portion of the power which rests in the hands of the Monarch is contributory or conducive to the end in question /has operated as a cause of the good effect in question:/ it never has been so much as attempted. /to shew in what ways it has operated as an obstacle to that same good effect is easy./ His interest stands plainly in a state of undeniable opposition to the universal interest. His interest is to have in his own possession /in/ the greatest quantity possible the greater quantity of those good things on the quantity of which the quantity of happiness is generally understood to depend /regarded as depending/: and that therefore in the hands, and for the one of those by whom clear means of happiness have been produced, there should remain /the quantity remaining/ as small a quantity /of them/ as possible, the quantity remaining unseized by them should at all times be as small as possible

     Go on in another page to predicate the like of the Lords.
  • Title: [1822 Feb. 10 Constitutional Code]
    Description: 1822 Feb. 10

    Constitutional Code

    Supreme Constitutive who

    '2. Means of Government

    The happiness of all the governed of the subject many will at all times it is manifest be in a great degree dependent on the conduct maintained by the governors, by the ruling few in the exercise of the powers of government as above particularized. As On every occasion His own greatest happiness is the object or end towards which the exercise of the active faculties of every individual during every moment will be directed, so on this occasion: the causing those individuals to be in the situation of the ruling few by whose conduct in such their situation his own happiness will according to his judgment be most effectually promoted /encreased/.

    If there was any other individual or set of individuals by whose conduct in the exercise of the powers of government the abovementioned only right and proper end of government were in a greater degree likely to be in a greater degree promoted /fulfilled/ than by the greatest number as above such other individual or individuals would be those in whose hands the principle of the greatest happiness would require that the exercise of those same powers should be lodged /performed/. But these are not nor in the nature of man can be any such other individual or set of individuals. Take for example any one such individual: to the giving every possible encrease to his own happiness whatever becomes of the happiness of others would the exercise of the powers of government in his hands be during every moment of his time be directed. But in propor[tion] as his own happiness received encrease would the aggregate happiness of all the governed be diminished.