The pursuit of happiness has a venerable tradition in British political economy. Jeremy Bentham, the late 18th century founder of utilitarianism, defined it thus: “By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the party whose interest is in question?.?.?.?if that party be the community in general, then the happiness of the community; if a particular individual then the happiness of that individual?.?.?.?The interest of the community then, is what? – the sum of the interest of the several members who compose it.”
追求幸福是英國政治經濟學中一個傳統。18世紀功利主義創始人杰里米?邊沁(Jeremy Bentham)是對功利主義（utilitarianism，又稱效用主義）這么下定義的：“所謂效用的原則，是指按照會促進或妨礙利益相關者的幸福——如果是一個群體，就是指這個群體的幸福；如果是某個具體的人，就是指這個人的幸福——的傾向，來贊成或反對任何一項行動……那么，群體的利益是什么？就是構成群體的各個成員的利益的總和。”