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.

Summary

In this quote, the author argues that philosophers need to reevaluate the emphasis on the greatest happiness principle, as it can potentially be exploited to justify a dictatorship. Instead, they propose a more practical and humble principle: recognizing the pursuit of reducing avoidable suffering as a goal of public policy, while leaving the promotion of happiness primarily to individual efforts. By advocating for this shift, the author suggests a balanced approach that acknowledges the importance of societal intervention while preserving personal autonomy.