Bart Schultz
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780691154770
- eISBN:
- 9781400884957
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691154770.003.0004
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Political Philosophy
This chapter examines John Stuart Mill's legacy as an advocate of utilitarianism. Mill championed an open society, critical thinking, human dignity, and women's equality and produced immortal works ...
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This chapter examines John Stuart Mill's legacy as an advocate of utilitarianism. Mill championed an open society, critical thinking, human dignity, and women's equality and produced immortal works such as Utilitarianism, On Liberty, On the Subjection of Women, and the thirty-three volume Collected Works of John Stuart Mill. The chapter first provides an overview of Mill's early life and education before discussing the ways that he was influenced by his father James Mill and Jeremy Bentham. It then considers how Mill, together with his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, succeeded in framing a vision of a vibrant, individualistic liberalism replete with a healthy public sphere and grounded on the progress of civilization and happiness. It also explores Mill's views on subjects ranging from pleasure and the principle of utility to hedonism, liberty, colonization, poor relief, death penalty, and religion.Less
This chapter examines John Stuart Mill's legacy as an advocate of utilitarianism. Mill championed an open society, critical thinking, human dignity, and women's equality and produced immortal works such as Utilitarianism, On Liberty, On the Subjection of Women, and the thirty-three volume Collected Works of John Stuart Mill. The chapter first provides an overview of Mill's early life and education before discussing the ways that he was influenced by his father James Mill and Jeremy Bentham. It then considers how Mill, together with his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, succeeded in framing a vision of a vibrant, individualistic liberalism replete with a healthy public sphere and grounded on the progress of civilization and happiness. It also explores Mill's views on subjects ranging from pleasure and the principle of utility to hedonism, liberty, colonization, poor relief, death penalty, and religion.
Terence Ball
- Published in print:
- 1994
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198279952
- eISBN:
- 9780191598753
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198279957.003.0008
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Theory
Here, I re‐examine the sources of John Stuart Mill's feminist sympathies. After looking closely at two oft‐touted candidates—Jeremy Bentham and Harriet Taylor Mill—I conclude that neither played the ...
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Here, I re‐examine the sources of John Stuart Mill's feminist sympathies. After looking closely at two oft‐touted candidates—Jeremy Bentham and Harriet Taylor Mill—I conclude that neither played the role attributed to them by some modern feminists. A third and heretofore unsuspected thinker—namely his own father, James Mill—proves to be a much more plausible and probable source of the younger Mill's feminist views.Less
Here, I re‐examine the sources of John Stuart Mill's feminist sympathies. After looking closely at two oft‐touted candidates—Jeremy Bentham and Harriet Taylor Mill—I conclude that neither played the role attributed to them by some modern feminists. A third and heretofore unsuspected thinker—namely his own father, James Mill—proves to be a much more plausible and probable source of the younger Mill's feminist views.
Timothy Larsen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- July 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198753155
- eISBN:
- 9780191814815
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198753155.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter tells the story of the death of Harriet’s first husband, John Taylor, and her second marriage to Mill. For decades, Mill was deeply frustrated that his relationship with Harriet could ...
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This chapter tells the story of the death of Harriet’s first husband, John Taylor, and her second marriage to Mill. For decades, Mill was deeply frustrated that his relationship with Harriet could not have a public, social existence. This chapter chronicles Mill’s delight in the married state and in finally being able to say that Harriet was his wife. Mill even saw this relationship in Christian and biblical terms, declaring: ‘My wife and I are one’. Finally, this chapter explores Mill’s attempts to find language for Harriet’s greatness and to convince the world of her high worth. Ironically, the author of A System of Logic discovered that one of the most important things which he wanted to convince the world of was something that he could not prove.Less
This chapter tells the story of the death of Harriet’s first husband, John Taylor, and her second marriage to Mill. For decades, Mill was deeply frustrated that his relationship with Harriet could not have a public, social existence. This chapter chronicles Mill’s delight in the married state and in finally being able to say that Harriet was his wife. Mill even saw this relationship in Christian and biblical terms, declaring: ‘My wife and I are one’. Finally, this chapter explores Mill’s attempts to find language for Harriet’s greatness and to convince the world of her high worth. Ironically, the author of A System of Logic discovered that one of the most important things which he wanted to convince the world of was something that he could not prove.
Timothy Larsen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- July 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198753155
- eISBN:
- 9780191814815
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198753155.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity, Philosophy of Religion
At this point, Mill meets the great, passionate partner of his life, Harriet Taylor. This chapter endeavours to explain the complex relationship and way of life that they created for themselves ...
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At this point, Mill meets the great, passionate partner of his life, Harriet Taylor. This chapter endeavours to explain the complex relationship and way of life that they created for themselves during the lifetime of her first husband, John Taylor. The choice of celibacy is investigated. Even for freethinkers, chaste affairs were often pursued in this time period and milieu, including by people close to Mill such as W. J. Fox (with Eliza Flower) and Auguste Comte (with Clotilde de Vaux). This chapter also reveals the way that Harriet became a kind of substitute deity and religion for Mill. He frequently applied religious language to her, including deeming her judgement to be ‘perfect’ and ‘infallible’. With Harriet, Mill’s devotional sense finally found an outlet.Less
At this point, Mill meets the great, passionate partner of his life, Harriet Taylor. This chapter endeavours to explain the complex relationship and way of life that they created for themselves during the lifetime of her first husband, John Taylor. The choice of celibacy is investigated. Even for freethinkers, chaste affairs were often pursued in this time period and milieu, including by people close to Mill such as W. J. Fox (with Eliza Flower) and Auguste Comte (with Clotilde de Vaux). This chapter also reveals the way that Harriet became a kind of substitute deity and religion for Mill. He frequently applied religious language to her, including deeming her judgement to be ‘perfect’ and ‘infallible’. With Harriet, Mill’s devotional sense finally found an outlet.
Bart Schultz
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780691154770
- eISBN:
- 9781400884957
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691154770.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Political Philosophy
This book tells the colorful story of the lives and legacies of the founders of utilitarianism—one of the most influential yet misunderstood philosophies of the past two centuries. Best known for ...
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This book tells the colorful story of the lives and legacies of the founders of utilitarianism—one of the most influential yet misunderstood philosophies of the past two centuries. Best known for arguing that “it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong,” utilitarianism was developed by the radical philosophers, critics, and social reformers William Godwin, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor Mill, and Henry Sidgwick. Together, they had a profound influence on nineteenth-century reforms. Their work transformed life in ways we take for granted today. Bentham even advocated the decriminalization of same-sex acts, decades before the cause was taken up by other activists. As Bertrand Russell wrote about Bentham in the late 1920s, “There can be no doubt that nine-tenths of the people living in England in the latter part of last century were happier than they would have been if he had never lived.” Yet in part because of its misleading name and the caricatures popularized by figures as varied as Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, and Michel Foucault, utilitarianism is sometimes still dismissed as cold, calculating, inhuman, and simplistic. By revealing the fascinating human sides of the remarkable pioneers of utilitarianism, this book provides a richer understanding and appreciation of their philosophical and political perspectives—one that also helps explain why utilitarianism is experiencing a renaissance today and is again being used to tackle some of the world's most serious problems.Less
This book tells the colorful story of the lives and legacies of the founders of utilitarianism—one of the most influential yet misunderstood philosophies of the past two centuries. Best known for arguing that “it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong,” utilitarianism was developed by the radical philosophers, critics, and social reformers William Godwin, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor Mill, and Henry Sidgwick. Together, they had a profound influence on nineteenth-century reforms. Their work transformed life in ways we take for granted today. Bentham even advocated the decriminalization of same-sex acts, decades before the cause was taken up by other activists. As Bertrand Russell wrote about Bentham in the late 1920s, “There can be no doubt that nine-tenths of the people living in England in the latter part of last century were happier than they would have been if he had never lived.” Yet in part because of its misleading name and the caricatures popularized by figures as varied as Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, and Michel Foucault, utilitarianism is sometimes still dismissed as cold, calculating, inhuman, and simplistic. By revealing the fascinating human sides of the remarkable pioneers of utilitarianism, this book provides a richer understanding and appreciation of their philosophical and political perspectives—one that also helps explain why utilitarianism is experiencing a renaissance today and is again being used to tackle some of the world's most serious problems.
Don Herzog
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300180787
- eISBN:
- 9780300195170
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300180787.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Early Modern History
This chapter focuses on the subject of sexual inequality in early modern England. It discusses Harriet Taylor Mill, who said that “Women never have had equal rights with men.” The chapter explains ...
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This chapter focuses on the subject of sexual inequality in early modern England. It discusses Harriet Taylor Mill, who said that “Women never have had equal rights with men.” The chapter explains that it is no surprise that John Stuart Mill's quixotic attempt to amend the second Reform Bill to extend the vote to women was met with laughter and ironic applause. It discusses how the first step in describing the exclusion of women is straightforward: there is a social division of labour on sex (not gender) lines, so that the state/society line has only males on the state side. That could in turn both give rise to and be underwritten by a highly stylized gender norm, so that state affairs are masculine and other social activities feminine.Less
This chapter focuses on the subject of sexual inequality in early modern England. It discusses Harriet Taylor Mill, who said that “Women never have had equal rights with men.” The chapter explains that it is no surprise that John Stuart Mill's quixotic attempt to amend the second Reform Bill to extend the vote to women was met with laughter and ironic applause. It discusses how the first step in describing the exclusion of women is straightforward: there is a social division of labour on sex (not gender) lines, so that the state/society line has only males on the state side. That could in turn both give rise to and be underwritten by a highly stylized gender norm, so that state affairs are masculine and other social activities feminine.
Timothy Larsen
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- July 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198753155
- eISBN:
- 9780191814815
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198753155.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity, Philosophy of Religion
John Stuart Mill observed in his Autobiography that he was a rare case in nineteenth-century Britain because he had not lost his religion but never had any. He was a freethinker from beginning to ...
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John Stuart Mill observed in his Autobiography that he was a rare case in nineteenth-century Britain because he had not lost his religion but never had any. He was a freethinker from beginning to end. What is not often realized, however, is that Mill’s life was nevertheless impinged upon by religion at every turn. This is true both of the close relationships that shaped him and of his own thoughts. Mill was a religious sceptic, but not the kind of person which that term usually conjures up. The unexpected prominence of spirituality is not only there in Mill’s late, startling essay, ‘Theism’, in which he makes the case for hope in God and in Christ. It is everywhere—in his immediate family, his best friends, and his vision for the future. It is even there in such a seemingly unlikely place as his Logic, which repeatedly addresses religious themes. John Stuart Mill: A Secular Life is a full biography which follows one of Britain’s most well-respected intellectuals through all of the key moments in his life from falling in love to sitting in Parliament and beyond. It also explores his classic works including, On Liberty, Principles of Political Economy, Utilitarianism, and The Subjection of Women. In this well-researched study which offers original findings and insights, you will encounter the Mill you never knew; the Mill that even some of his closest disciples never knew. This is John Stuart Mill, the Saint of Rationalism—a secular life and a spiritual life.Less
John Stuart Mill observed in his Autobiography that he was a rare case in nineteenth-century Britain because he had not lost his religion but never had any. He was a freethinker from beginning to end. What is not often realized, however, is that Mill’s life was nevertheless impinged upon by religion at every turn. This is true both of the close relationships that shaped him and of his own thoughts. Mill was a religious sceptic, but not the kind of person which that term usually conjures up. The unexpected prominence of spirituality is not only there in Mill’s late, startling essay, ‘Theism’, in which he makes the case for hope in God and in Christ. It is everywhere—in his immediate family, his best friends, and his vision for the future. It is even there in such a seemingly unlikely place as his Logic, which repeatedly addresses religious themes. John Stuart Mill: A Secular Life is a full biography which follows one of Britain’s most well-respected intellectuals through all of the key moments in his life from falling in love to sitting in Parliament and beyond. It also explores his classic works including, On Liberty, Principles of Political Economy, Utilitarianism, and The Subjection of Women. In this well-researched study which offers original findings and insights, you will encounter the Mill you never knew; the Mill that even some of his closest disciples never knew. This is John Stuart Mill, the Saint of Rationalism—a secular life and a spiritual life.
