We human beings like pleasure and dislike pain.

人的本性就是趋乐避苦的
And so we should base morality,

所以我们应以道德为基准
whether we're thinking about what to do in our own lives

不管是在考虑个人行为时
or whether as legislators or citizens,

还是作为立法者或普通公民
we're thinking about what the laws should be.

考虑如何立法时
The right thing to do individually or collectively is

于公于私最正确的选择都该是
to maximize, act in a way that maximizes the overall level of happiness.

即为全方位地最大化地提升幸福
Bentham's utilitarianism is sometimes summed up with the slogan

边沁的功利主义有时被总结为一句口号
"The greatest good for the greatest number."

为最多的人谋求最大的幸福
With this basic principle of utility on hand,

有了这条最基本的功利原则
let's begin to test it and to examine it

让我们检验一下这条原则
by turning to another case, another story,

是否适用于另一案例