Crandall, John J.

Jeremy Bentham was both radical and brave, and he was years ahead of his time on social issues. His ideas helped lead to the Social Democratic welfare state adopted by the countries of Europe that today enjoy the highest standard of living. He wrote in favor of legalized homosexuality, equality for women, the right to divorce, prison reform, police reform, separation of church and state, freedom of speech, the abolition of slavery, the abolition of the death penalty, children's rights, and animal rights. Bentham is known as the founder of utilitarianism, a political philosophy that encourages