Philosophers should consider the fact that the greatest happiness principle can easily be made an excuse for a benevolent dictatorship. We should replace it by a more modest and more realistic principle - the principle that the fight against avoidable misery should be a recognized aim of public policy, while the increase of happiness should be left, in the main, to private initiative.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Avoid using happiness as a policy goal to prevent dictatorship; instead, focus on reducing avoidable misery through public policy.
- In plain terms
- Fighting misery should be public policy, while happiness should be left to private efforts.
- What can you take from it?
- Focus public policy on reducing misery rather than maximizing happiness.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What should government prioritize?
- How do you define policy goals?
Another view
Some argue the state should actively promote well-being.
More from Karl Popper
Those who promise us paradise on earth never produced anything but a hell.
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