Showing results for "Jeremy Bentham" in History

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the life and ideas of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), an influential English jurist, philosopher, and social reformer. A political radical and a pioneer of utilitarianism and animal rights, Benthams contributions have significantly shaped liberal thought. His essay, Offences Against Ones Self, written around 1785, boldly advocates for the decriminalization of homosexuality, challenging the restrictive laws of his time. Although it remained unpublished during his lifetime due to concerns over public morality, it was finally released in 1931. This ...

The criminalisation of homosexuality over centuries has been one of the shocking injustices of European history - it existed from the middle ages and before and well into the 20th century. The death penalty (hanging or burning) was a commonplace feature in legal systems. These two remarkable texts - one from England in the 18th century and one from Germany in the 19th century - show how there was a growing awareness of the prejudice and the cruelty of its effect.