Abstract

The work deals with the problem of diversity of utilitarian theories and their relationship to historical interpretations of the doctrine. After a brief presentation of what can be considered as family ties of utilitarian theories, we seek to highlight the connection between the variety of utilitarian theories and works of historical interpretation as a defense strategy of the doctrine. Noteworthy is the central place in these historical interpretations of the doctrine of the called "classical authors", in particular, the interpretations of the Jeremy Bentham's thought, the father of utilitarianism. Are questioned some assumptions of these traditional readings, generally accepted by both critics and defenders of the doctrine, that obscure or neglect important aspects of Bentham's thought such as the volitional nature of morality, the procedure of moral deliberation, the negative defense of the principle of utility and the relationship between private ethics and governance; aspects which, if taken into account, seem to reveal a Bentham quite different from traditional readings.