Who said, "The general happiness is the end of the state"?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to political philosophy and asks about a statement describing the purpose of the state. The phrase "The general happiness is the end of the state" reflects the utilitarian idea that the main goal of government is to maximise happiness for the greatest number. Recognising which philosopher supported this view helps you answer conceptual questions in political theory and general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• A specific quote about the end or purpose of the state is given.
• Four options list names of philosophers or a misspelled distractor.
• Only one of these thinkers is correctly associated with utilitarianism and this idea of general happiness.
• The question is conceptual and does not involve numerical calculations.

Concept / Approach:
Jeremy Bentham is known as a founder of classical utilitarianism, which holds that actions and institutions should aim at the greatest happiness of the greatest number. The quote that "the general happiness is the end of the state" fits his view that laws and government must be evaluated by their contribution to overall happiness. Other philosophers such as Plato and Hegel had different views on the purpose of the state, focusing on justice, ideal forms, or rational freedom. Therefore, associating this statement with Bentham is the correct conceptual approach.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the quote and understand that it links the purpose of the state with general happiness. Step 2: Recall which philosopher is primarily known for utilitarianism and the idea of maximising happiness. Step 3: Remember that Jeremy Bentham defined good laws and policies in terms of their effect on the sum total of happiness. Step 4: Choose Bentham as the correct answer and treat the other names as distractors.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on political science and philosophy clearly present Bentham as the key figure behind the greatest happiness principle. Summaries of his thought emphasise that the end of government and law is the promotion of general happiness. Comparing this with discussions of Plato and Hegel shows that their focus lies on different ideals, confirming that the quote best matches Bentham's ideas.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Plato focused on the idea of justice and the ideal state in works like "The Republic", rather than explicitly defining the end of the state as general happiness.
Hegel saw the state as the embodiment of ethical life and rational freedom, not primarily as an instrument for maximising happiness in a utilitarian sense.
"Hegeet" is not a recognised philosopher; it appears as a distractor based on the name Hegel and is therefore incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse classical philosophers because they encounter many names and quotations together when revising political theory. Another error is to assume that Plato or Hegel must be correct simply because they are major names in philosophy, without checking how closely their views match the quote. To avoid such mistakes, link each key idea to a specific philosopher, for example: happiness and greatest number with Bentham, justice and ideal state with Plato, and rational state with Hegel.

Final Answer:
The statement "The general happiness is the end of the state" is attributed to Jeremy Bentham, so Bentham is the correct answer.