John Stuart Mill

At the age of 21, John Stuart Mill suffered a nervous breakdown. This event led him to turn to poetry for solace, particularly the works of William Wordsworth, and to begin formulating his own philosophical beliefs.

Mill examines the concept of the Mind and Ego, proposing an alternative to the belief that they are separate from feelings. He delves into the paradox of a series of feelings being aware of itself as a series.

John Stuart Mill proposed four methods for isolating causes of observed phenomena based on scientific progress. The first method is the Method of Agreement, which suggests causal relationship between two phenomena if they always occur together. The second method is the Method of Difference, which indicates causal relationship if the presence or absence of one phenomenon is the only distinguishing factor.

John Stuart Mill's Theory of Associationism states that all ideas and beliefs originate from sense impressions. Similar or frequently experienced sensations are connected together in the mind, forming complex ideas.

John Stuart Mill was born in London to economist James Mill. He was raised in the intellectual tradition of utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham.

John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, political economist, and civil servant. He was a strong advocate of utilitarianism and individual liberty.

In a letter to Thomas Carlyle, John Stuart Mill discusses the idea of deriving dynamic conclusions from mechanical premises, specifically focusing on the relationship between character-focused ethics and hedonistic foundations.

In 1818, John Stuart Mill's father published The History of British India. This work influenced Mill's early intellectual development.

In 1820, John Stuart Mill spent a year in France.

At the age of fifteen, John Stuart Mill returned from a year-long trip to France, which had a significant impact on his intellectual development and worldview.

In 1822, John Stuart Mill started working at the examiner's office of the East India Company, where his father was also employed. He worked for the company for over 30 years.

In 1823, John Stuart Mill joined the East India Company as a clerk, which was essentially a branch of the British civil service at that time.

In 1825, John Stuart Mill began working on an edition of Bentham's Rationale of Judicial Evidence, a significant project that contributed to his understanding of legal principles.

In 1826-1827, John Stuart Mill found solace in the poetry of the Romantics, marking the beginning of a new phase in his life. He started emphasizing the importance of embracing emotions and advocating for social reform, influenced by poets like Wordsworth, Coleridge, Carlyle, and Goethe.

In 1828, John Stuart Mill defended the syllogism in logic against Scottish philosophers who proposed a system of inductive logic. He aimed to supplement the existing logic rather than replace it, showcasing his commitment to intellectual rigor and innovation.

In 1830, John Stuart Mill met Harriet Taylor at a dinner party and they quickly fell in love. Harriet, who was previously married to John Taylor, an amiable pharmacist, had an arrangement with Mill to visit her at the Taylors' country retreat when her husband was not around.

John Stuart Mill, as the second member of Parliament to call for women's suffrage after Henry Hunt, was an early advocate for gender equality and women's rights.

In 1835, Sir William Molesworth founded The London Review, with John Stuart Mill as the editor. This role allowed Mill to further engage with intellectual and political discourse, shaping his influence in the public sphere.

Harriet Mill, John Stuart Mill's wife, passed away a little over a month after his retirement from the East India Company.

In 1837, John Stuart Mill published A System of Logic in two volumes, which introduced many changes in subsequent editions. Book VI of this work focused on formulating a logic of the human sciences based on causal explanation in Humean terms.

Around 1840, John Stuart Mill published several significant articles in The Edinburgh Review, showcasing the breadth of his interests and intellectual contributions. These writings reflected his evolving perspectives on various subjects.

Since November 1841, Mill had engaged in a pen-friendship with Auguste Comte, the founder of positivism and sociology. Comte's ideas on sociologie influenced Mill's views on human nature and philosophy of science.

In 1843, John Stuart Mill published his influential work 'System of Logic'.

In 1844, John Stuart Mill published Essays on Some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy, which included solutions to technical problems in the field. These essays showcased his early influences from David Ricardo and his strive for more precise economic statements.

John Stuart Mill's 'Principles of Political Economy' was published in 1848, edited by W.A. Ashley and later reprinted in 1909.

John Taylor, the husband of Harriet Taylor, died in 1849, paving the way for Harriet to later marry John Stuart Mill in 1851.

In 1850, John Stuart Mill anonymously wrote a letter in response to Thomas Carlyle's pro-slavery arguments. Mill supported the abolition of slavery, expressing his strong opposition to the practice.

After 21 years of close friendship, John Stuart Mill married Harriet Taylor in 1851. Their relationship was believed to be chaste before Taylor's first husband died in 1849. Mill declared to repudiate the rights conferred upon him over her by virtue of the marriage under Victorian law.

In 1856, John Stuart Mill became the head of the examiner's office in the India House. His official work in this role, particularly during the dissolution of the British East India Company in 1858, showcased his skills in defending the company's administration.

In 1858, John Stuart Mill published 'On Liberty', his most famous work. The book was written together with his late wife, Harriet Taylor, and he dedicated it to her. 'On Liberty' is a seminal work advocating individual liberty against state authority.

John Stuart Mill's work 'On Liberty' addresses the stifling effect of Victorian judgmentalism and oppressive norms of propriety, a subject he experienced firsthand in his own life.

John Stuart Mill's book advocating for gender equality, arguing against the legal subordination of one sex to the other and promoting the principle of perfect equality.

John Stuart Mill argued for the qualitative separation of pleasures in utilitarianism, stating that intellectual and moral pleasures are superior to physical forms of pleasure. He believed that higher pleasures, such as those gained from mental and moral activities, hold greater value than lower pleasures.

In 1865, John Stuart Mill was elected as a member of parliament for Westminster. He was known for his radical views supporting equality for women, compulsory education, birth control, and land reform in Ireland.

John Stuart Mill proposed a universal education system sponsored by the state, emphasizing benefits for marginalized groups, especially women. He believed that education could lead to new abilities and behaviors, granting women industrial and social independence.

In April 1868, during a Commons debate, John Stuart Mill expressed his support for the retention of capital punishment for crimes like aggravated murder, criticizing the abolition of it as 'an effeminacy in the general mind of the country'.

In 1869, John Stuart Mill published 'On Liberty', a seminal work in the field of political philosophy. In this book, Mill argues for the importance of individual autonomy and the dangers of societal conformity.

John Stuart Mill passed away on 7th May 1873. His contributions to philosophy, economics, and politics left a lasting impact on various fields.

John Stuart Mill, one of the most influential English-speaking philosophers of the 19th century, passed away in Avignon, France. His legacy includes advocacy for individual rights, gender equality, and social and political reforms.

Marshall's Principles of Economics replaced John Stuart Mill's Principles of Political Economy as the standard text at Oxford University in 1919.

In 1951, John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor were involved in events or activities that took place in both London and Chicago.

Mandelbaum in 1971 discussed Mill's belief that an individual's mind is shaped by their experiences, akin to the tabula rasa theory of the empiricists. Mill's view evolved to suggest that human nature can be molded, influenced by cultural background conditions.

John Stuart Mill believed that the sciences, including physical, mathematical, and social sciences, are ultimately based on inductive reasoning. However, he also emphasized the importance of deductive organization and practice in these fields. This is particularly evident in mathematics.

John Stuart Mill's philosophical perspective is heavily influenced by naturalism. His views on the mind and the world are shaped by what can be justified about the nature of these entities, particularly rejecting a priori reasoning.

In 1990, Fred Wilson published a book titled 'Psychological Analysis and the Philosophy of John Stuart Mill' in Toronto, which explores the psychological aspects of John Stuart Mill's philosophy.

Donner in 1991 argued that happiness is one of the desirable things. Mill's argument for this claim has become infamous.

John Stuart Mill fought against political discrimination throughout his life, advocating for equality and social reforms. He believed that barriers to education and professions were as important to address as denial of voting rights to women.

In 1994, L. Zastoupil published a book titled 'John Stuart Mill and India' in Stanford, CA, focusing on the relationship between John Stuart Mill and India.

In 1998, Kitcher, P. discussed the relationship between John Stuart Mill, mathematics, and naturalistic philosophy.

Riley in 2002 argued that Mill believes a higher pleasure is more valuable than a lower pleasure based on a specific passage from Mill's work 'Utilitarianism'. The passage suggests that if one pleasure is preferred so greatly over another that it would not be exchanged for any amount of the other pleasure, then the preferred pleasure is considered of superior quality.

John Stuart Mill believed that societies are subject to natural laws, just like individuals. He proposed the idea of specific laws governing the transition of societies from barbarism to civilization, aiming to scientifically map out the process of history.

In 2006, Mill's shift towards character as the central point of practical theorizing was highlighted. This change in emphasis in his philosophy raised questions about the significance of character in his work.

John Stuart Mill wrote 'On Liberty' in response to concerns about the stifling conformism in thought, character, and action that could arise from informal mechanisms of social pressure and expectation in mass democratic societies.

Fletcher's work in 2008 focused on Mill's axiology, specifically on what states of affairs are considered valuable and which outcomes are deemed good. The work clarifies that Mill's axiological claims do not directly address moral obligations.

Mill believes in the existence of supererogatory acts, which are actions that go beyond what is required but are praiseworthy. He argues that failing to do the most good possible does not necessarily make an action immoral.

John Stuart Mill's work focused on studying the impact of social conditions on character development, as seen in his Autobiography, The Subjection of Women, and On Liberty.

John Stuart Mill had complex views on political democracy, which will be discussed further in section 4.7. He was critical of social forms of discrimination and advocated for equality.

A book edited in 2014 that critically evaluates John Stuart Mill's System of Logic. Published in London by Routledge.

In 2015, Turner highlighted that despite initially ignoring moral, prudential, and aesthetic rules, John Stuart Mill eventually leaned towards an act-utilitarianism position based on practical reason.

The book 'A Companion to Mill' was published in 2016, co-edited by Christopher Macleod. The author expresses gratitude towards Reuven Brandt, Aaron Cobb, Sam Clark, Fred Kroon, John Skorupski, Nick Unwin, and other contributors for their feedback and corrections.

In April 2017, the OUP Philosophy team recognized John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) as their Philosopher of the Month. Mill, a prominent figure in the nineteenth century, is renowned for his contributions to liberal thought and extensive writings on various subjects.