Jeremy Bentham and his influence in the Iberian world

The Center for Economic Studies of Madrid (CEEM) of the Rey Juan Carlos University is holding a seminar on the figure and work of the British philosopher on October 28 and 29.

Writing/Alberto Rosa

Jeremy Bentham was one of the great thinkers of political philosophy in the Western world. His materialistic rationalism was of hitherto unknown ambition. A single ethical criterion, that of "the greatest happiness for the greatest number", served as a master key to unlock the legal, political, social and economic problems of the United Kingdom and the countries of the world then known.

The Iberian world on both sides of the Atlantic was drinking from his influence with reform proposals and innovative legislative writings, but above all maintaining a very copious correspondence. The Madrid Center for Economic Studies (CEEM) of the URJC is organizing a seminar on the figure and work of this famous British philosopher and economist, whose Iberian correspondence has just been translated into Spanish, on October 28 and 29.

Professors of Economics Fernando Becker (Rey Juan Carlos University) and Pedro Schwartz (Camilo José Cela University) are the directors of this seminar that aims to be a meeting point for scholars specialized in the field of ethical, legal, social and economic theory.

The event will take place on Thursday, October 28 in the afternoon and on Friday, October 29 in the morning in the Assembly Hall of the Library of the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences of the URJC on the Vicálvaro campus. It can also be followed live from TV URJC through this link.

A dozen experts to address Bentham's philosophy

The different conferences will be initiated by an expert who will open the debate and in which the rest of the participants can contribute with their comments, ordered by the moderator. In the presentations of the first day that will begin at 16:00 p.m., topics such as Bentham's biography, the presentation of his Iberian correspondence translated into Spanish or utilitarian ethics will be addressed.

On Friday, October 29, starting at 09:30 there will be talks on the legislative system and codification, the philosophy of happiness or the criticism of the 'Common law'. Finally, the seminar will close with a round table led by the Professor of Economics at the Camilo José Cela University, Pedro Schwartz.