Philosophy of Happiness and Sexual Freedom in Jeremy Bentham
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This paper analyzes how Jeremy Bentham deals with the problem of compatibility between sexual freedom and public happiness. The extensive Benthamian corpus on the question of homoerotic relations is then considered, establishing its chronology, and examining its arguments. From the principle of utility, Bentham defends the decriminalization of homoerotic relationships and the beneficial effects of this practice on public happiness. Finally, the context of the Benthamian proposal is explored: the Enlightenment debate about homoerotic relations and the so-called “English anomaly”.
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