Abstract:In this paper, I shall deal with Bentham’s deontic logic. Firstly, I shall present
the main ideas on Bentham’s deontic logic and their interpretation. Secondly,
Bentham’s theory on the relationship between rules and exceptions will be addressed.
Finally, I shall consider the Benthamite account of the mechanism of
derogation and its relationship with legal permissions. It is intended to show that
Bentham’s ideas on deontic logic, the logic of legal defeasibility (the important
role played by the mechanism of rule-exception in the law) and the logic of derogation
represented very illuminating contributions to the theory of law.