「급진주의는 위험하지 않다」: 제러미 벤담의 급진주의자 면모

Abstract

Jeremy Bentham claimed to be “an old radical” at the age of 75 in 1823, but already in 1810s had published pamphlets calling for “radical reform” arguing inappropriateness of “moderate reform.” This paper examines mainly what Bentham wrote under the title of “radical reform” or “radicalism,” and investigates a) what Bentham meant for radicalism, b) his vindication of radicalism, c) his strategy for radicalism, d) effects of his radicalism. Bentham called for radical parliamentary reform which consisted of virtual universal suffrage, practically equal constituency, secret ballot, and annual election. Though Bentham called for abolition of neither king nor House of Lords until 1830, this program kept him at the forefront of the contemporary reform movements. In his article “Radicalism not Dangerous” Bentham argued against the association of radicalism with levelling of property by pointing out latter's impracticability. In order to enforce his radicalism, Bentham thought mobilizing public opinion crucial only to influence parliament to legislate reforms. Bentham’s contribution to the course of radicalism is that he provided the term with an influential definition and encouraged its usage to some extent. However, in the last years of his life Bentham favoured the term “liberal” too, which might have reflected the waning of his commitment to radicalism.