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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Section 9.: The greatest happiness of the greatest number requires, that the work, being the work of a single hand, and known to be so, it be known whose the hand is. Hand, known whose it is. - The Works of Jeremy Bentham, vol. 4

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Section 9.: The greatest happiness of the greatest number requires, that the work, being the work of a single hand, and known to be so, it be known whose the hand is. Hand, known whose it is. - Jeremy Bentham, The Works of Jeremy Bentham, vol. 4 [1843]

Edition used:

The Works of Jeremy Bentham, published under the Superintendence of his Executor, John Bowring (Edinburgh: William Tait, 1838-1843). 11 vols. Vol. 4.

Part of: The Works of Jeremy Bentham, 11 vols.

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Section 9.

The greatest happiness of the greatest number requires, that the work, being the work of a single hand, and known to be so, it be known whose the hand is. Hand, known whose it is.

Reason. Else, as above, neither of the inducements to good workmanship will have place.

Only in so far as it is known who the workman is, can the work be known to be the work of no more than a single hand. As to knowledge, true it is—that, strictly speaking, no such thing is here possible. In addition to the declared workman’s own declaration, all that, in relation to the matter, can be absolutely known, is—that by competent authority, a suitable declaration has been made—a declaration (suppose) to this effect:—“This man” (naming him) “is the man, by whom alone this draught” (naming it) “has (we believe) been penned.” On the other hand, if the declaration were no more than to this effect—“The work is the work of a single hand,” the hand not being named, the circumstance of the concealment would be apt to operate in disproof of the fact in question—of the fact thus mysteriously and imperfectly declared.

Suppose now, that, notwithstanding both these declarations, so it is, that the individual whose work the draught is declared to be, had not really borne any part in it. Still, however, so far as depends upon responsibility, here is an individual on whom it attaches, and in its entire state.

Lest it be supposed to have been overlooked is this case brought to view, rather than on account of any such importance as seems attached to it. In a case such as the present, no great probability seems to belong to any such supposition as that of a fraud, concerted between two persons, a real workman and a pretended one, of whom the real one shall have found adequate inducement, for foregoing the honour of a work of this sort really his, and for being at the same time accessary to a solemn falsehood and imposture,—while the pretended workman, for the sake of that same honour, shall have found adequate inducement for exposing himself to his part of the dishonour of that same falsehood and imposture.

The only case that presents so much as the faintest colour of probability seems to be this:—For the hope of remuneration in the naturally attached shape above mentioned,—an individual, having interest, or say protection, without aptitude, engages another, who has aptitude without protection, to execute the work, and assign over to him the honour of it, with the looked-for consequences. In certain schools and colleges, this sort of traffic has not been altogether an uncommon one. In the present case, if the danger were thought worth combating at such a price, it might be pretty effectually excluded by a public examination, to which, previously to his entrance upon any office of the sort in question in remuneration for his legislative draught, the declared author should be subjected.

Remains the case, where, by one individual, by whom the principal part in the work has been borne,—assistance, in one shape or other, has been derived from the labours of others, in what number is not material: he at the same time declaring himself by name as the workman, by whom the work has been executed, saying nothing of any others. This case presents itself as being a completely natural and probable one. But, in this case, the grand point—the responsibility—is sufficiently secured: and, as to the honour—the encouragement,—if, for the sake of the assistance in question, the only individual interested is content to part with more or less of it, the public service profits by the exchange, and no individual suffers by it.