Can Law Achieve Happiness? Critical Reflections on Criminal Justice

Main author: Campbell, John
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-26358
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This paper applies Bentham’s utilitarian philosophy to contemporary criminal law in the United Kingdom. This task necessarily requires that I begin by addressing Bentham’s assumptions about the role of the legislator and of law which are central to his argument that law can achieve happiness. Section (ii) applies Bentham’s ideas to contemporary legislation on domestic violence and it examines how the police and courts implement this legislation. I seek to understand whether Bentham’s arguments apply to contemporary legislators and the legal process Section (iii) looks at a domestic violence case heard in a London magistrates’ court in 2017. I assess the evidence submitted in this case and consider whether the decision reached by the court can be adequately ‘summed up’, to use Bentham’s phrase, as one which advances ‘the happiness of society’?
format Journal Article
author Campbell, John
author_facet Campbell, John
authorStr Campbell, John
author_letter Campbell, John
title Can Law Achieve Happiness? Critical Reflections on Criminal Justice
publisher Wildy, Simmonds and Hill Publishing
publishDate 2018
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/26358/