Philosophers: J.J. Rousseau, J. Bentham, T. Aquinas

The philosophy of Jeremy Bentham is quite questionable and I do not agree with his statement “it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong” (Soccio 292). This assumption is very controversial and I do not agree with this premise. On the one hand, this assumption looks good since Bentham stands for the common good that means that any action is good just because it serves to interests and needs of the majority of people. On the other hand, this principle rejects and neglects interests of the minority, but the neglect of interests and rights of any person is the threat to rights and interests of all people. This is why I would disagree with Jeremy Bentham and reject his core principle. Such utilitarian approach is unacceptable because the common good is impossible at cost of sufferings or neglects of rights and interests of minority.

I would also disagree with Thomas Aquinas’ argument from design. Thomas Aquinas holds the premise 1. All natural occurrences show evidence of design. 2. This suggests that there is a being that directs all things. 3. Things that lack knowledge cannot achieve anything unless directed by a thing with knowledge. 4. There is therefore an intelligent being that directs everyone towards a purpose. 5. For Aquinas, this being is God. However, in my opinion, such argument is inconsistent because it intrinsically suggests that all natural occurrences have some design, but the philosopher does not draw any factual evidence. Instead, he refers to his sheer assumptions and his argument does not the possibility of questioning whether there is some design. If the same natural occurrences are viewed from the Darwinist perspective, they turn out to be totally wrong. Hence, if the assumption is questionable, this assumption cannot be absolute truth, while Thomas builds up his argument from design on the ground of this assumption.

Aristotle’s argument that “the political partnership must be regarded, therefore, as being for the sake of noble actions, not for the sake of living together” (Soccio 133) is very strong and refers to his ethical perspective on politics. I strongly support this argument because the goal of politics is the achievement of certain goals which serve to good of people rather than to the mere co-existence of people and their life in one community or nation. Aristotle’s ideas on politics are very important for the development of effective policies and responsibility of politicians in regard to people. This is particularly important for the democratic society, where politicians represent people and have to meet their needs. Hence, the noble goal they pursue contributes to the effective policy and meeting needs of people. However, such a view on politics is idealistic in a way.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is the prominent philosopher, who was one of the first to suggest that people are born as tabula rasa. I strongly agree with this idea, although there are hereditary factors, people are still born with only basic instincts and what they learn about the world they learn from their social environment, including their parents, peers, teachers, and other people. This is why people are born as tabula rasa and they have no prior knowledge before their birth. Many philosophers prior to Rousseau and after Rousseau argued that people are born with certain innate set of values and beliefs but such ideas are quite questionable, where Rousseau’s idea is very important in terms of changing the attitude to people and revealing their full potential as well as the role of education which contributes to the formation of individuals and their worldview.

Works Cited:

Soccio, D.J. Archetypes of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy. New York: Cengage Learning, 2014.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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