Work Classification Layer
Compare Works
Pick two or more works to set their attribute fingerprints, dimension-by-dimension passages, and shared school embodiments side by side. Especially useful for author-stage comparisons (Wittgenstein early vs late) and for setting a single tradition's foundational texts against each other.
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
Bentham's 1789 founding treatise of classical utilitarianism — "the greatest happiness of the greatest number"
Attribute Fingerprint
Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.
| Attribute | An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (Late) |
|---|---|
| Time · Extent | Infinite |
| Time · Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Time · Grain | Continuous |
| Time · Freedom | Deterministic |
| Time · Traversability | Linear |
| Time · Dimensionality | One |
| Time · Direction | Uni-directional |
| Space · Extent | Infinite |
| Space · Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Space · Curvature | Flat |
| Space · Dimensionality | Three |
| Space · Locality | Local |
| Matter · Extent | Infinite |
| Matter · Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Matter · Conservation | Conserved |
| Matter · Dimensionality | Three |
| Matter · Locality | Local |
| Observer · Time Instance | Single |
| Observer · Space Instance | Single |
| Observer · Knowledge Extent | Partial |
| Observer · Knowledge Retainment | Total |
| Observer · Physicality | Embodied |
| Observer · Agency | Both |
| Observer · Number | Plural |
| Observer · Metaphysical Agency | None |
| Observer · Moral Authority | Reason |
| Observer · Theological Method | — |
| Energy · Extent | Infinite |
| Energy · Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Energy · Conservation | Conserved |
| Energy · Dispersibility | Irreversible |
| Information · Ontological Status | Substantival |
| Information · Cosmic Conservation | Conserved |
| Information · Personal Conservation | Conserved |
| Information · Granularity | Continuous |
Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence
What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.
Time
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
The temporal duration of pleasures and pains.
Space
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
The legislative space of utilitarian calculation.
Matter
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
The sentient body capable of pleasure and pain.
Observer
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
The legislator calculating utility.
Energy
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
Energies of pleasure and pain.
Information
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
The felicific calculus as information-processing.
Internal Tensions
Where each work's argument pulls against itself.
Bentham's utilitarianism: criticized by Mill (qualitative distinctions) and Sidgwick (egoism/utilitarianism gap) but foundational for the modern welfarist tradition.