date

1823 Feb. 18 Greece Beginning
1823 Feb. 18

Greece

Beginning

Therefore even supposing on the part of each lesser number better information /knowledge/ concerning what would be in the highest degree conducive to the greatest happiness of the greatest number than the greater number is, still it is not to the accomplishment the greatest happiness of such greatest number that the endeavours of the /such/ lesser number would be directed but to the accomplishment of the greatest happiness of such lesser number. And as to appropriate knowledge and judgment © in a word appropriate intellectual aptitude © where is that lesser number of whom there can be reason for thinking that they are possessed of appropriate knowledge and judgment in a word of appropriate intellectual aptitude in a higher degree than the whole of the greater number in which this portion of it is contained?

This being admitted thence comes the next subordinate end /object/ namely that in the determination taken as to the persons by whom the particular arrangements by the execution of which the business /powers/ of government is carried on /are exercised/ the object should be to place the power in the hands of such persons by whom on every occasion such arrangements shall accordingly be made in the highest degree conformable to the will and thence to the interest of the greatest number.

If it were possible the surest way would be that the persons by whom these arrangements were framed should be the persons themselves of which such greatest number is composed. But, the multitude of such number considered, together with their want of time for the employment in addition to that necessary for providing the means of subsistence, this is manifestly impossible: what remains as the next most probable course /means/ of securing on the part of the arrangements in question conformity to their will, the system according to which those persons by whom the arrangements in question are framed are persons who being all chosen for this purpose by this /such/ greatest number are at short intervals liable to be displaced by such greatest number, and made to give place to the objects of a fresh choice made in that same voice.
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    Description: 1823 Feb¼y¼. 18. Greece Beginning

    This is the end to which the arrangements contained in the Organic law in

    question actually are, or at any rate are professed to be directed. Witness

    Article 2 which says, All Nations of Greece professing the Christian Religion

    are Greeks, and possess all the political rights © and Article 11th which

    speaking of the legislative Senate says "it is composed of Deputies elected by

    the different provinces". Elected? by whom? assuredly by all those to whom

    political rights are accorded: that is to say all natives of Greece professing

    Christianity as above. For if among political rights as contradistinguished from

    civil a right of concurring in the election of representatives in the Supreme

    Operative body intituled the legislative Senate be not included what other

    political rights can be understood to be therein included?

    If then these are the persons whose greatest happiness is to be endeavoured at,

    in the determination as to what arrangements shall be established, these are the

    persons to whose will these arrangements must as far as may be rendered

    comformable. For if they do not understand /can not reasonably be regarded as

    understanding/ what arrangements will be most /in the highest degree/ conducive

    to their happiness For if such arrangements as they approve of under the

    persuasion of their being in a higher degree conducive to their happiness than

    any others that have been proposed are not likely to be productive of that

    effect, what other sets of persons are there so situated and circumstanced as

    that arrangements such as they approve of will present a greater probability of

    aptitude with relation to the production of that effect? What is certain is ©

    that no other or lesser set of persons can reasonably be expected to be so

    constantly determined to take for the end of their arrangements the greatest

    happiness of the set of persons in question as the set of persons in question

    themselves in a word no other set can reasonably be regarded as possessed in so

    great a degree of appropriate moral aptitude.
  • Title: [1823 Feb. 19 Greece Beginning I Maximize]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 19 Greece Beginning I Maximize peoples will's efficiency 1. in

    person, impossible

    What is here meant to be designated by the locution /word/ the people being thus

    explained, we proceed /the enquiry proceeds/ as follows

    The greatest happiness of the people requires that in the formation of the

    arrangements by which the conduct of the people is to be regulated, the greatest

    degree of efficiency be at all times given to the will of the people that the

    nature of the case admitts of.

    For in no body of men other than the greatest number of the people will either

    any will be found assignable by which a stronger desire to produce the greatest

    happiness of the people is to be found, or a /any understanding possessing a/

    more intimate knowledge of that which is in the highest degree conducive and

    contributory to the production of such greate Take any other class of persons

    whether smaller or larger, exterior or interior with reference to such greatest

    number the desire of such other class would be the production of its own

    greatest happiness whatsoever became of the happiness of the people in question:

    such would be the desire, and such the constant endeavour in consequence.

    Suppose though there be no reason for the supposition suppose on the part of the

    other class a truer and more extensive and accurate knowledge of what /that

    which/ is in the highest degree conducive to the happiness of the people in

    question than has place on the part of the people themsleves, still this

    knowledge would not be productive of that same desirable effect: whatsoever

    appropriate knowledge judgment and active talent was possessed by this other

    class would be turned to /employed in/ the augmentation of the felicity of such

    other class, and to the diminution of the felicity of the class in question in

    so far as the [...?] such diminution on the one part such augmentation on the

    other promised to be effected.
  • Title: [1823 Feb. 19 Greece Beginning]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 19

    Greece

    Beginning

    Such is the state of things the simplest in its conception which to human conception will be found more simple than any other: let enquiry be made whether it is not the most eligible © the most highly conducive etc.

    In no political state has it ever been found © in no political state does it seem likely that it should ever be found © that the things and services of persons requisite for the abovementioned purposes could by possibility be found /obtained/ at all times in sufficient abundance at the hands of persons parting from them without experiencing any sensation of reluctance. But in so far as the operation of affording supplies /the matter of it expence/ in this or any other shape has reluctance for its accompaniment, all expence is evil: in all political states as yet in existence this evil has been very considerable: and in most political states hitherto in existence it has been and continues to be so considerable as to be every but intolerable.

    Correspondent to the three branches or species of power above brought to view are so many departments: say the constitutive, the legislative, the executive departments.

    To each department the degree in which accomplishment is given to the abovementioned all©embracing and only justifiable end of government the greatest happiness of the greatest number will be as the relative or appropriate aptitude of the several functionaries employed in such department /it/

    Now there may be brought to view two immediately subordinate and consequently minor ends of government included in the abovementioned all©embracing end: Aptitude maximized; expence minimized. In /Into the compass/ these four words for shortness /memory/ sake may be condensed the designation of these two immediately subordinate and practically consecutive ends or fit objects of pursuit on the occasion of all political arrangements.