John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a British philosopher, political economist, and civil servant. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, contributing significantly to social theory, political theory, and economics. Mill was an ardent supporter of utilitarianism, an ethical theory developed by his predecessor, Jeremy Bentham, which states that actions are right if they tend to promote happiness and wrong if they lead to the opposite of happiness. Mill's education was rigorously conducted by his father, James Mill, with the explicit intention of moulding him into a philosopher to carry on the cause of utilitarianism. By the age of three, Mill was studying Greek, and by eight, Latin. At a remarkably young age, he delved into advanced mathematical and economic theory. Over his career, Mill notably worked for the East India Company, which allowed him financial stability while pursuing his scholarly interests. He wrote significant works that have shaped academic and public discourse. “A System of Logic” was a comprehensive exposition on logic, while “Principles of Political Economy” was a standard economics textbook for many years and reflected his belief in free markets, with some exceptions regarding social welfare. Perhaps his most renowned work, “On Liberty,” discusses the nature and limits of the power that society can legitimately exercise over the individual. He argues passionately for the necessity of individual liberty and the freedom of speech. His other work, “The Subjection of Women,” was an important early work in feminist philosophy, advocating for equality between the sexes. Mill sought to improve society and the human condition through the application of utilitarian philosophy, which he expanded upon to include qualitative distinctions in happiness. Alongside his theories on liberty and utilitarianism, Mill is also famous for his harm principle, which posits that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to other individuals. He remains a figure of great importance in Western thought and his ideas continue to be debated and celebrated to this day.