John Stuart Mills Essay - 564 Words

John Stuart Mills John Stuart Mill was one of the most well regarded and widely renowned philosophers and economists in history. He was considered a philosophical genius by the age of 20, and was mainly taught only by his father. His father believed that he should be educated and be taught many different languages and philosophies to become a well-rounded individual. When he had to end his studies early in life because of a mental breakdown at the age of 20, he soon recovered and was something different than when he first studied. Not long after he recovered he showed how different he was than his father and began writing in the Westminster review. He has widely been known for his views on liberalism that he showed in†¦show more content†¦It is of no surprise that he also supported individual freedom of thought and expression on the grounds of individual autonomy and minority protection. He stated that such freedom would encourage and not interfere with individual development, both social and intellectual, and would help in the emergence of truth. Mills greatest impact was his views on utilitarianism. In his essay Utilitarianism in 1863, Mill undertook the first real critical analysis of utilitarianism. He attempted to combine rationalism and romanticism to create both an objective political philosophy and a morally satisfying one. Mill asserted that life could not be judged on the simple hedonic principle of pleasure and pain, which Bentham had used because life was just more complicated. Not all pleasures are equal in value, he said, with the pleasures preferred by people with more developed character ethically superior than others. Unlike Bentham, who did not believe the prospect of man being able to pursue spiritual perfection, Mill placed equal importance on the cultivation of feeling and the building of character. He also passionately defended the rights of free speech and the value of individuality. Mill showed the fact that a wide range of character was to be found in society, and that some of it certainly was not exactly ethically fit, fearing that public opinion could become a sort ofShow MoreRelatedThe Mill By John Stuart Mill1537 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Stuart Mill was a famous philosopher and historian. Jeremy Bentham who advocated for utilitarianism just like Mill influenced much of Mill’s works. Mill’s works were also greatly influenced by Jeremy Bentham’s brother, Samuel and Mill’s father, James. Mill had many early works prior to his writings on utilitarianism. Mill discusses how to determine right and wrong, but this seems to be an ongoing conflict. Mill believes that in order to prove goodness you must have ethical morals lined up inRead More`` On Liberty `` By John Stuart Mill1458 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Stuart Mill was an English philosopher and a progressive in British politics during the 17th century. He lived during a time of political transformation in England caused by the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution brought social mobility to the middle and lower class, along with more political participation. With this newfound freedom, the people of England felt their liberties were being diminished because they had the ability to accomplish all the more but in some cases, couldRead MoreThe Contributions Of John Stuart Mill1250 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Stuart Mill was a British philosopher who was born on May 20, 1806 in London, England, to Harriet Burrow and James Mill, a noted economist, philosopher and historian. 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