Bentham's legal philosophy, often referred to as utilitarian individualism, emphasized the emancipation of individuals from restraints on their freedom. He believed that once liberated, individuals would naturally look after their own welfare. As a proponent of the laissez-faire economic principle, Bentham advocated for minimal state interference in individual matters.

A staunch supporter of codification, he criticized judge-made laws and customs. Bentham was also a utilitarian, advocating that the ultimate goal of legislation should be the "greatest happiness of the greatest number." He defined utility as the tendency of something to prevent harm or promote good, with good and harm corresponding to pleasure and pain. In his own words:

"Nature has placed man under the empire of pleasure and pain. These are the ultimate standards that govern all our ideas, judgments, and decisions. The legislator and moralist must study these eternal and irresistible sentiments. The principle of utility subjects everything to these two motives."

For Bentham, the purpose of law was to maximize pleasure and minimize pain, making these the ultimate standards by which law should be judged. This utilitarian perspective sidelined considerations of justice and morality, as reflected in his dictum: "Obey punctually, censure freely."