功利刑法观的滥觞——边沁刑法思想述评

Origin of utilitarian idea of criminal law ——Introduction and comment on Bentham's idea of criminal law

边沁功利主义刑法思想的哲学基础源于古希腊哲学家伊壁鸠鲁快乐主义的伦理观,他认为刑法是一种必要之恶、惩罚之恶,因此主张将"功利"一词具体化为"最大多数人的最大幸福",以此功利理论为指导建立刑法理论,提出了刑罚轻重设置的规则,以作为刑罚的合理根据。

Philosophical basis of Bentham's Utilitarian idea of criminal law stemed from doctrine of happiness of Epicurus, who was a paleo-Greek philosopher. In Bentham's opinion, criminal law was a necessary evil and punitive evil, so utilitarism meaned the greatest happiness of the greatest number. Guided by this utilitarian theory, Bentham expounded rules of prescripting punishment as legitimate basis of penalty to establish his criminal theory.