Thought imitates life : the case of John Stuart Mill
In this essay, I relate material in the original published work â John Stuart Mill â Victorian Firebrand (Atlantic Books, 2007) to the claim that the central features of Millâs thought can be seen more clearly through a biographical lens. The original contribution of the main work lies in the excavation and application of biographical material to the development of Millâs philosophy. The poor development of Millâs utilitarianism results in part from a lack of personal investment and aspiration. Millâs motivation was to atone for earlier, premature assaults on Jeremy Benthamâs philosophy - rather than to develop it further. As a consequence, his mature utilitarianism is hard to integrate with his liberalism, which was where his primary interest lay. Elements of Millâs liberalism also bear a biographical imprint. The central emphasis on self-creation in Millâs liberal ethic results, in part, from his own âcrisisâ and subsequent departure from the rationalist utilitarianism of his father and Bentham. Similarly, Millâs focus on individuality stemmed in part from a concern to demonstrate he was not, himself, a âmade manâ. Openmindedness became a central liberal virtue, for Mill, following
Reeves, Richard
B Philosophy (General)
Thought imitates life : the case of John Stuart Mill. In this essay, I relate material in the original published work â John Stuart Mill â Victorian Firebrand (Atlantic Books, 2007) to the claim that the central features of Millâs thought can be seen more clearly through a biographical lens. The original contribution of the main work lies in the excavation and application of biographical material to the development of Millâs philosophy. The poor development of Millâs utilitarianism results in part from a lack of personal investment and aspiration. Millâs motivation was to atone for earlier, premature assaults on Jeremy Benthamâs philosophy - rather than to develop it further. As a consequence, his mature utilitarianism is hard to integrate with his liberalism, which was where his primary interest lay. Elements of Millâs liberalism also bear a biographical imprint. The central emphasis on self-creation in Millâs liberal ethic results, in part, from his own âcrisisâ and subsequent departure from the rationalist utilitarianism of his father and Bentham. Similarly, Millâs focus on individuality stemmed in part from a concern to demonstrate he was not, himself, a âmade manâ. Openmindedness became a central liberal virtue, for Mill, following
thought life case john_stuart_mill essay relate material original publish_work john_stuart_mill victorian atlantic books claim central feature mill think_see clearly biographical lens original main work lie excavation application biographical material development mill philosophy poor development mill utilitarianism part lack personal investment aspiration mill motivation earlier premature assault philosophy rather develop far consequence mature utilitarianism hard integrate liberalism primary interest lay elements mill liberalism also bear biographical imprint central emphasis self creation mill liberal ethic part crisis subsequent departure rationalist utilitarianism father similarly mill focus individuality stem part_concern make man become_central liberal virtue mill follow