Jeremy Bentham

📘 About This Book

Warum sollte man Gesetze erlassen? Wie sollte man Gesetze formulieren und begrunden? Derart zeitlose und gerade fur das Strafrecht so grundlegend wichtige Fragen stellen sich Rechtsphilosophen und -theoretiker wie Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). Bentham gilt als Begrunder einer der wichtigsten philosophischen Stromungen des angelsachsischen Sprachraums: dem Utilitarismus. Dass Bentham zugleich einer der ersten Rechtspositivisten der Denkgeschichte, ein brillanter Rechtstheoretiker und ein sprachphilosophischer und psychologischer Pionier war, weiss man dort auch schon seit Jahrzehnten. Auf dem europaischen Kontinent hingegen -- und in Deutschland insbesondere -- ist die Rezeption von Benthams Werk bedauerlich schmal.Dem hilft diese Arbeit ein Stuck weit ab. Klar und verstandlich rekonstruiert sie Benthams philosophisches Denksystem. Sie analysiert detailliert seine -- zum Teil erst in der zweiten Halfte des 20. Jahrhunderts veroffentlichten -- Schriften, bezieht die wichtigsten Stellungnahmen so bedeutender Rechtsphilosophen und Bentham-Kenner wie H. ,L. ,A. Hart ein und entwickelt eine hochinteressante Rechts- und Staatstheorie. Diese ist Grundlage von Benthams beruhmtem Leitlinienentwurf eines Strafgesetzbuches, der "Introduction to the Priniciples of Morals and Legislation". Zugleich wirft die Arbeit neue Schlaglichter auf das Verstandnis des Utilitarismus im Allgemeinen.

📖 Summary

Jan-Christoph Marschelke's 2008 study on Jeremy Bentham offers a thorough exploration into the foundational questions of legal philosophy, legal theory, and utilitarianism. Published in German, the 301-page volume addresses timeless questions regarding why laws should be enacted and how they ought to be formulated and justified. These inquiries are especially vital for criminal law and have shaped generations of legal thinkers. The book serves to bridge a noticeable gap in continental European and particularly German scholarship, where the reception of Bentham's work has historically remained quite narrow, contrasting sharply with his status in the Anglo-Saxon world. Jeremy Bentham, who lived from 1748 to 1832, is widely recognized as the founder of utilitarianism, one of the most influential philosophical traditions in the English-speaking world. However, Marschelke emphasizes that Bentham was much more than a utilitarian moral philosopher. He was also among the earliest legal positivists in the history of thought, a brilliant legal theorist, and a pioneer in the fields of philosophy of language and psychology. The volume meticulously reconstructs these facets of Bentham's intellectual legacy with remarkable clarity and comprehensibility, making complex legal-philosophical concepts accessible to readers unfamiliar with the breadth of his writing. At the core of the text is an examination of Bentham's approach to legislation and the rational justification of legal systems. Marschelke explores how Bentham sought to replace obscure, customary, and judge-made laws with codifications based on the principle of utility—maximizing happiness and minimizing pain for the greatest number of people. By analyzing Bentham's legal positivism, the book highlights how the philosopher separated the existence of law from its moral merits, establishing a framework where laws could be systematically evaluated, criticized, and reformed based on their empirical consequences. Furthermore, the study delves into Bentham's contributions to the philosophy of language and psychology, showing how his understanding of human motivation and linguistic signs informed his legal theories. Bentham recognized that language could be a source of confusion and mystic obfuscation in law, prompting him to develop rigorous methods for clarifying legal terminology. Through a careful reading of Marschelke's work, readers gain a comprehensive appreciation of how Bentham's multifaceted intellect converged to create a systematic science of legislation that continues to provoke debate and inspire legal theorists today.

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