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Why did later utilitarians support government action to correct abuses of private enterprise?
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Utilitarianism
English philosopher and economist Jeremy Bentham's preserved skeleton in his own clothes and surmounted by a wax head, at University College London.
Early utilitarians generally opposed government interference in trade and industry, operating under the assumption that an unregulated economy would naturally self-regulate to produce the greatest welfare for society.1
However, later utilitarians shifted their perspective as they lost confidence in the social efficiency of private enterprise. Consequently, they became willing to advocate for the use of governmental power and administration to correct the abuses of the private sector. This evolution reflected a broader utilitarian commitment to achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number, leading them to prioritize practical outcomes and social reform over rigid adherence to earlier economic assumptions.12