Utilitarian Philosophy and Workhouse

Utilitarian Philosophy

Utilitarianism is mainly characterized by two elements: happiness and consequentialism.

 Utilitarian happiness is the biggest happiness which (supposedly) every human being looks for. In utilitarianism everything useful to happiness is good. Therefore, the name of the doctrine is utilitarianism, based on the principle of utility.

However this led to unrestrained competition and exploitation of human and natural resources.

Utilitarianism expressed a desire of freedom; it is then a form of liberalism. Indeed, in England, it evolved in two currents arisen from the influence of Bentham: an economic liberalism and a social liberalism. Two currents appeared then: an economical liberalism which will become the capitalism, and a social liberalism which will become socialism and later on communism.


Workhouse

In England a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment.
The origins of the workhouse can be traced to the Poor Law Act of 1388, which attempted to address the labour shortages following the Black Death in England by restricting the movement of labourers, and ultimately led to the state becoming responsible for the support of the poor. The New Poor Law of 1834 attempted to reverse the economic trend by discouraging the provision of relief to anyone who refused to enter a workhouse. Some Poor Law authorities hoped to run workhouses at a profit by utilizing the free labour of their inmates, who generally lacked the skills or motivation to compete in the open market.
Life in a workhouse was intended to be harsh, to deter the able-bodied poor and to ensure that only the truly destitute would apply.