The Hedonic Calculus

Bentham's way of measuring the amount of pleasure created by an act was the Hedonic Calculus

• Intensity: the stronger, the better
• Duration: the longer-lasting, the better
• Certainty: the more certain it is that pleasure will result, the better
• Extent: the more people who experience it, the better
• Propinquity: the closer the pleasure is to happening, the better
• Richness: the more chance the pleasure will be repeated, or…