First published in 1789, Jeremy Bentham's best-known work remains a classic of modern philosophy and jurisprudence. Its definitions of the foundations of utilitarian philosophy and its groundbreaking studies of crime and punishment retain their relevance to modern issues of moral and political philosophy, economics, and legal theory.Based on the assumption that individuals seek pleasure and avoid pain, Bentham's utilitarian perspective forms a guide to moral decision-making. With the "greatest happiness of the greatest number" as his objective, the author attempts to identify the sources and varieties of pleasure and pain as well as the ways in which they can be measured in assessing moral options. Considerations of intentionality, consciousness, motives, and dispositions support Bentham's arguments. The text concludes with his survey of purpose and the role of law and jurisprudence, a fascinating exercise in the theory of social reform that explores conflicts between the interests of the majority and individual freedom.

I. Of the Principle of UtilityII. Of Principles Adverse to that of UtilityIII. Of the Four Sanctions or Sources of Pain and PleasureIV. Value of a Lot of Pleasure or Pain How to be MeasuredV. Pleasures and Pains, Their KindsVI. Of Circumstances Influencing SensibilityVII. Of Human Actions in GeneralVIII. Of IntentionalityIX. Of ConsciousnessX. Of Motives1. Different senses of the word Motive2. No Motives either constantly good or constantly bad3. Catalogue of Motives corresponding to that of Pleasures and Pains4. Order of pre-eminence among Motives5. Conflict among MotivesXI. Of Human Dispositions in GeneralXII. Of the Consequences of a Mischievous Act1. Shapes in which the mischief of an Act may show itself2. How intentionality, &c. may influence the mischief of an ActXIII. Cases unmeet for Punishment1. General view of cases unmeet for Punishment2. Cases in which Punishment is groundless3. Cases in which Punishment must be inefficacious4. Cases where Punishment is unprofitable5. Cases where Punishment is needlessXIV. Of the Proportion Between Punishments and OffencesXV. Of the Properties to be Given to a Lot of PunishmentXVI. Division of Offences1. Classes of Offences2. Divisions and sub-divisions3. Genera of Class I.4. Advantages of the present method5. Characters of the five classesXVII. Of the Limits of the Penal Branch of Jurisprudence1. Limits between private Ethics and the art of Legislation2. Jurisprudence, its branches