Bentham and education: a social project

Abstract

In the nineteenth century, the utilitarian theorists wanted the reform of society by adopting the principle of “the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers” (principle of utility), as proposed by Jeremy Bentham, form which also advocated education as one of the means to achieve these social changes. In this article we attempt to reconstruct central assumptions of Bentham´s theory expressed in his texts, namely A fragment on the government, Introduction to the principles of morals and legislation and Panopticon, which culminate in the educational project signaled in Chrestomathia. The methodology consists in historiographical review. The results and conclusions indicate that Bentham´s educational project of has not been sufficiently considered by later authors despite their influence.