date

1823 Feb. 21 Greece Beginning Inserendum
1823 Feb. 21 Greece Beginning Inserendum

To an objection to this effect /of this sort/ it must be confessed, admitts but

of one answer. The will, to which if the greatest happiness of the greatest

number is the result of it, effect will have been given by the arrangements

taken in pursuit of that end will be © not that which at the commencement of the

change while minds are as yet in their debased state of debasement would be

their will © but that which it may be presumed will be their will, by the time

that a rational regard for the only proper end of government together with a

right understanding /conception/ of the means most contributory to that end have

been attained by them. Happily as to what will be their wills, when once there

has been time for the conveying to /impressing on/ their minds this salutary

conception and the impression has been made accordingly there can not be any

reasonable particle of doubt. Official Aptitude maximized, public expence

minimized © when once proposed to the who [...?] can refuse to recognize in

these two short phrases the designation of the two minor ends immediately

subordinate to and included in that one /same/ universal end? Among the most

ignorant and prejudiced of men who is there that does not on every occasion

obtain whatever it is that he wants, at /for/ the smallest price at which he

finds it in his power to obtain it. What man therefore so ignorant or so

prejudice as not to recognize the advantage of obtaining at the like low prices

all such services as he stands in need of at the hands of his rulers?
Similar Items
  • Title: [1823 Feb. 21 Greece Beginning Inserendum]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 21 Greece Beginning Inserendum

    Objection. Under this system under which for /by which it is assumed that for/

    the purpose of securing the greatest happiness of the greatest number, the

    surest course is to order matters that the conduct of all be rendered as nearly

    as may be conformable to the will of the greatest number, no such effect can

    ever be produced in any country in which delusion worse than ignorance the

    united power /influence/ of force intimidation, corruption and delusion have

    been reduced to and at this moment in question continue in a state of the most

    pernicious error as to the means by which alone the end can be attained and

    accomplished the desirable effect can be produced. By the conjunct imposture of

    Priests and Lawyers the greatest number have been taught and persuaded to think

    that a form of government in which depredation and oppression in all other

    shapes to the profit of their rulers have by those same rulers been screwed up

    to the highest pitch possible, is not only a good government, but the very best

    government © the only one in justification of which any thing reasonable can be

    said. This being the case, a government which had /has/ really for its object

    the greatest good of the greatest number, neither is nor ever can be regarded by

    them in any other light than that of a bad and unendurable government: so bad

    that all attempts to cause it to have place ought to be resisted by every

    individual though the sacrifice of his whole fortune with the addition of that

    of his life were the certain consequence.
  • Title: [1823. Feb. 21 Greece Beginning]
    Description: 1823. Feb. 21

    Greece

    Beginning

    The greatest happiness etc /principle/ requires that the power of the Executive department be lodged in a single hand. Reasons © 1. Certainty of the conformity of the functionary's conduct to the will of the Supreme Operative /Legislative/ maximized. 2. Promptitude of execution, maximized: 3. Responsibility to legal and popular sanctions maximized: 4. Expence minimized.

    The greatest happiness principle requires that the immediate displacing of this functionary be at all times in the power of the Legislative. Reason. Certainty of conformity as above. By no other means could any such certainty be produced, or any approach to it made. If for a day together it were in the power of this functionary to resist the declared will of the supreme Legislative, he would thereby for and during that time be in possession of an equal share in the legislative power in addition to the whole of the Executive.
  • Title: [1823. Feb 21 Greece. J.B. to Greek]
    Description: 1823. Feb 21

    Greece. J.B. to Greek Legislators

    Of the advice which I shall take the liberty of submitting to you three distinguishable sets of observations will be seen to be the sources.

    1. Observations made on human nature in general on human beings in every situation in life in all situations taken indiscriminately

    2. Observations made on the conduct of men and particularly men in ruling and other influential situations under such Constitutions as have had for their object or end in view the greatest happiness of the greatest number.