Final answer:
Jeremy Bentham, like Cesare Beccaria, promoted utilitarianism, which advocates for actions that generate the greatest happiness for the most people. His ideas led to 19th-century legal reforms, prioritizing rational and humane treatment in the criminal justice system, focusing on societal welfare rather than just punishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Like Cesare Beccaria, Jeremy Bentham advocated a new way of dealing with crime based upon the concept of utilitarianism. This ethical theory posits that the best actions are those that provide the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. Bentham's approach proposed that government, law, and society could be reformed by focusing on the consequences of actions, specifically their ability to promote happiness and reduce suffering. The principle of utility, which he championed, influenced various aspects of legal and penal reforms, advocating for a rational, secular, and humane criminal justice system that aimed beyond mere punishment to consider the greater societal good.
Bentham's ideas were integral to the development of policies seeking to balance objectives such as rehabilitation, retribution, and deterrence within the criminal justice system. These concepts led to legal reforms during the 19th century, affecting how crimes and criminals were viewed and dealt with, emphasizing rationality and efficiency in the pursuit of societal welfare.