What would one do with his body after passing away? As we had a discussion about Utilitarianism a couple of days ago, I found an interesting story about Jeremy Bentham, the founder of Utilitarianism, especially about how his body is kept after his death.
Jeremy Bentham(1748-1832), the founder of Utilitarianism, befriended and was contemporary with Mill's father, James Mill. Adopting Bentham's idea, Mill was a strong advocate of Utilitarianism as we have seen in his writing, On Liberty. When he died in 1832, Bentham's remaining was preserved as the "Auto-icon". According to his will, he wanted his body to be kept in a carbinet in the same manner as when he was alive, that is to be "seated in a chair usually occupied by me when living, in the attitude in which I am sitting when engaged in thought in the course of time employed in writing." The Auto-icon was moved to University College London (UCL) in 1850. Nowadays, people can see this Auto-icon and get some inspiration at the end of the South Cloisters of the main building of UCL. People who visit UCL can enjoy priviledge to meet this late famous philosopher in person; however, they can meet him partly. Due to the failure in processing his body, the head got seriously disfigured and looked too horrible to put on his body. As a result, a wax head was placed with his body, instead of the real one.
There is an anecdote about this Auto-icon that it attends the meetings of the College Council. In the meeting, it is wheeled into the room and placed among the current board members. In the report, it would record that "Jeremy Bentham - present but not voting." However, the web in UCL just mentions this anecdote without confirming or refusing it.
People can still visit this Auto-icon and get some inspiration from him. If someone visit him and notice that his lip is moving, paying attention, he might be relating his philosophy to you "the greatest good for the greatest number of people."
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References
Nicoll, I. (2009). Bentham project. Retrieved March 17, 2010 from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Bentham-Project/info/jb.htm
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