The Bentham Project

The mission of the Bentham Project, based within UCL’s Faculty of Laws, is to publish a new authoritative edition of The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham and offer full access to his writings and ideas to global audiences for the first time. 

Why this matters

From law to politics, from economics to ethics, from religion to education, Jeremy Bentham is one of the most influential thinkers of the modern era. His ideas continue to shape modern debates on a huge range of contemporary issues and are increasingly referenced across multiple fields of study today.  

Despite his historical importance and contemporary significance, Bentham remains one of the most misunderstood and neglected of the world’s great thinkers. This is due to the lack of a critical edition of his writings. Previous collections of his works have been poorly edited, while a huge collection of his manuscripts have never before been published or accessible for study. 

For over sixty years, the Bentham Project has worked to address this gap in our philosophical heritage. Its mission is to produce the definitive critical edition of The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham, making his complete writings accessible to future scholars, students, and policymakers worldwide. 

Our commitment

As we celebrate UCL’s 200-year anniversary in 2026 and approach the bicentenary of Bentham’s death in 2032, we can now envisage a clear route to completing this monumental undertaking and publishing a comprehensive edition of all of Bentham’s works. 

Philanthropic support will ensure we have the resources to publish the remainder of Bentham’s writings to the rigorous standards expected by our team, accelerating our publication timeline, and unlocking previously undiscovered manuscripts. Moreover, it will facilitate other activities that ensure Bentham’s ideas are accessible to all the different audiences that will engage with his work, as well as supporting a planned programme of celebrations in recognition of Bentham’s life and impact. 

How your gift helps 

Supporting the Bentham Project is an opportunity to contribute to a unique historical endeavour – one that will secure a crucial part of our intellectual legacy and define how a foundational thinker is understood for generations to come. Your gift will enable new discoveries and deepen global scholarship by supporting:

• A dedicated team of academic experts with the specialist experience needed to produce an authoritative critical edition of The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham.
• Digital resources that make Bentham’s writings accessible to the public, including our award-winning Transcribe Bentham initiative.
• A series of events in 2032 to celebrate Bentham’s impact during the bicentenary of his death.
• Global outreach that will strengthen awareness and engagement with the Bentham Project from international audiences.

Get in touch

To find out more about supporting the Bentham Project at UCL, please email Philip Schofield, Professor of Legal and Political Thought and Director of the Bentham Project.