Jeremy Bentham

Today Jed and I went on the hunt for Jeremy Bentham. It was a really pretty day for January England so we walked through Regents Park and then over to UCL. Here's a picture. During the summer this pond is filled w. paddle boats.

Bentham is a utilitarian who was instrumental in the founding of UCL in 1826. Back then Oxford and Cambridge were the only real choices for university, but they were only open to the rich and church going. UCL was the first university in England to admit anyone without regard to creed, political, or religious beliefs.

Bentham asked that his body be preserved for all to see. Now he is in a big cabinet in the main building at UCL. He was closed today. Here's a picture of Jed in front of Bentham's "grave". Apparently his head used to be there, but it has since been removed.

I was thinking that it's kinda irreverent to be blogging about him--but I think that it's what he would have wanted.