Internationale Konferenz - International ConferenceBentham's Political ConstitutionalismLessons from Classical Utilitarianism in Regressive Times?

21. November 2025

Foto: SK@nachladen/Tim Reuscher

In Zusammenarbeit mit der GUS-Gesellschaft für Utilitarismus Studien e.V., veranstaltet Peter Niesen eine internationale Konferenz: 

Bentham’s Political Constitutionalism
Lessons from Classical Utilitarianism in Regressive Times?
Convenors: Peter Niesen and Michael Schefczyk
Gesellschaft für Utilitarismusstudien
Universität Hamburg, 21-22 Nov 2025
Warburghaus, Heilwigstr. 116

Richard Bellamy – Markus Patberg – Guillaume Tusseau – Xiaobo Zhai – Leonardo Nochang Heck – Emanuela Ceva – Maria Paolo Ferretti – Brian Chen – Philip Schofield – Emmanuelle de Champs – Johannes Gerschewski – Piers Norris Turner – Philipp Schink – Gordon Arlen – Frauke Höntzsch

21.11. Political Constitutionalism and Bentham’s Constitutional Law

9.30 h Keynote I

Richard Bellamy (UCL): Bentham’s Place in a Genealogy of Political Constitutionalism. Comment: Markus Patberg (Hamburg)

– Coffee break –

11 h Guillaume Tusseau (Sciences Po, Paris): Bentham’s Constitutionalism and the Genealogy of Weak Forms of Judicial Review
12 h Xiaobo Zhai (Macao): Bentham's and Waldron's Political Constitutionalisms: A Comparison. Comment: Leonardo Nochang Heck (Hamburg)

– Lunch break –

14.30 Keynote II
Emanuela Ceva (Geneva) & Maria Paola Ferretti (Mainz): Beyond Bentham: Office Accountability for Vulnerable Institutions. Comment: Brian Chen (NCCU Taipeh)

15.30 Philip Schofield (UCL): Bentham on the Chief Executive Functionary. Comment: Emmanuelle de Champs (Cergy Paris)

– Coffee break –

16.45 Johannes Gerschewski (Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin): How Can Patterns of Autocratization be Reined in?

17.45-18.45 Annual Members’ Meeting Gesellschaft für Utilitarismusstudien

19 h Conference Dinner

22.11. Democratic Control from Bentham to Mill

9.15 Piers Norris Turner (Ohio State): Official Aptitude and the Limits of Authority in Bentham and Mill. Comment: Philipp Schink (Oldenburg)

– Coffee break –

10.30 Gordon Arlen (Melbourne): Anti-Oligarchy from Bentham to Mill. Comment: Frauke Höntzsch (Augsburg)

11.30 Michael Schefczyk (KIT), Peter Niesen (Hamburg): Roundup

12.30 End of conference