'Prevention of evil, production of good': Jeremy Bentham's indirect legislation and its contribution to a new theory of prevention. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marciniak, Angela
• Is Part Of: History of European ideas. Volume 43:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 105
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Prevention -- indirect legislation -- Bentham -- political theory -- public policy -- knowledge -- security -- risk -- calculation; Europe -- Intellectual life -- Periodicals; Europe -- History -- Periodicals; 190.5
• DOI: 10.1080/01916599.2016.1251719
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-6599

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper critically analyses current depictions of prevention and tries to offer a new theoretical reflection on the concept by reconstructing it on the basis of Jeremy Bentham's writings on indirect legislation. It is my aim not only to explore Bentham's concept of indirect legislation as an outstanding example of enlightened social/public policy, but also to show to what extent his thoughts might be a fruitful contribution to a necessary reconceptualization of current conceptions of prevention, which are heavily criticized by many scholars.