# John Stuart Mill: Philosopher, Economist, and Advocate of Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was an influential 19th-century British philosopher, economist, and politician, as well as a senior employee of the East India Company. Trained rigorously from a young age by his father, the economist James Mill, and influenced by utilitarian thinker Jeremy Bentham, he helped shape [classical economics](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/classicaleconomics.asp) and [utilitarian](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/utilitarianism.asp) philosophy.

A controversial figure in Victorian Britain, Mill advocated combining economics, philosophy, and social awareness in political decision-making and legislation. Many of his views, such as on the legal status of women and the abolition of slavery, were progressive for his time. He co-founded the first women's suffragist society and supported the Union during the U.S. Civil War.

Mill is best known for his 1848 book, "Principles of Political Economy_,"_ a leading economic text for decades, as well as his influential works "On Liberty," "Utilitarianism," "A System of Logic," and "The Subjection of Women," which left a lasting mark on economics, ethics, and social reform.

### Key Takeaways

*   John Stuart Mill was a 19th-century British philosopher, economist, and politician who worked for the East India Company and served as a Member of Parliament.
*   He is best known for his works like "Principles of Political Economy," "Utilitarianism," "On Liberty," and "The Subjection of Women."
*   Mill advocated for classical economic theory and believed in integrating philosophy and social awareness into politics.
*   He championed individual rights, progressive social policies, and utilitarianism, which promotes the greatest good for the greatest number.
*   His early education by his father, James Mill, alongside influences from Romantic poets and his wife, Harriet Taylor, shaped his ideologies.

![John Stuart Mill](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/Il3M5qABIAHP6nPDq6I2qujxenU=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/john-stuart-mill.asp-sketch-v4-77936d9cf89a4d159d2c625ceb22cb3d.png)

*— Investopedia / Zoe Hansen*

## John Stuart Mill's Formative Years and Education

John Stuart Mill was born in London, the eldest son of James Mill, a historian, economist, and philosopher, and his wife, Harriet Barrow. His father provided a rigorous education, teaching him Greek by age three and Latin by eight. Mathematics and economic theory were also part of the curriculum.

John Stuart Mill's beliefs and works largely stemmed from his upbringing and what he learned from James Mill. His father became acquainted with the leading political theorist Jeremy Bentham in 1808, and together they started a political movement that embraced philosophical radicalism and utilitarianism, which advocates "the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people." It was during this time that the young Mill was indoctrinated with the economic theory, political thinking, and social beliefs that would shape his later work.

### Romantic Influences on Mill's Philosophy

His challenging childhood may have been responsible for the severe depression that dogged Mill in 1826-1827. He found his way out of this malaise largely through reading the Romantic poets, whose work appears to have given him an appreciation for the power of emotions and an urgency for social reform. This led him to new directions in his thinking.

His wife, Harriet Taylor, whom he married in 1830, was another major influence on Mill's life. The pair worked so closely together on his writings that he is said to have considered her the co-author of many of his works.

Mill worked for the powerful East India Company for 38 years, starting at age 16.

During 1865–68, Mill served as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the City of Westminster.

## John Stuart Mill's Key Contributions

### Exploring Mill's Philosophical Ideals

John Stuart Mill is considered one of the most influential British thought leaders on political discourse, including epistemology, economics, ethics, metaphysics, social and political philosophy.

He used his numerous articles, essays, and books to compare the legal status of women at the time to the legal status of slaves, to promote radical empiricism as a function of mathematics, and to pioneer the harm principle—the idea that political power should only be wielded over a member of an organization when that power is used to prevent harm to that member.

While a passionate believer in freedom and individual rights, as an economist Mill was not a consistent advocate of a laissez-faire system. He favored taxes and government oversight, such as workplace regulations and limits to workers' hours.

His later writings suggest a shift away from classic economics' belief in the free marketplace and capitalism towards socialism, or at least a mixed economy.

> **Fast Fact**
>
> Elaborating on the theories of early economists David Ricardo and Adam Smith, Mills helped develop such economic concepts as opportunity cost, economies of scale, and comparative advantage in trade.

### Major Works of John Stuart Mill

In order of publication, Mill's best-known works include:

*   _A System of Logic_ (1843), which outlines the methods of science and how they can be applied to social mechanics.
*   _Principles of Political Economy_ (1848), which combines the disciplines of philosophy and economics and advocates that population limits and slowed [economic growth](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/economicgrowth.asp) would be beneficial to the environment and increase [public goods](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/public-good.asp).
*   _On Liberty_ (1859), which addresses the nature and limits of the power that can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual, introducing the harm principle and defending free speech.
*   _Utilitarianism_ (1863), which expounds on Bentham's original philosophy, using it as the foundation of morals—rejecting the idea that it promotes narrow self-interest, and arguing it aims for the betterment of society as a whole.
*   _The Subjection of Women_ (1869), which makes the case for women’s suffrage and gender equality.
*   _Three Essays on Religion_ (1874), which critiques traditional, religious orthodoxy and advocates a more liberal "religion of humanity" (published posthumously).
*   _Autobiography_ (1874), which was written the year he died and published posthumously.

> **Important**
>
> The utilitarian creed, "which accepts as the foundation of morals utility, or the greatest happiness principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure."—John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism

## The Personal Influences on Mill’s Life

The love of Mill's life was Harriet Hardy Taylor. After two decades of a close friendship (when she was the wife of another man), they married in 1851. An intelligent, liberal thinker and writer in her own right, Taylor inspired much of Mill's work—he openly acknowledges her influence in _The Subjection of Women—_and she may well have edited or co-written some of his pieces.

Certainly, she helped turn Mill’s attention to the progressive ideals which she was passionate about: socialism, women’s rights, individual liberty, and a “utopian” view of humanity’s improvability.

## What Are John Stuart Mill's Most Important Works?

John Stuart Mill's most important works include _Principles of Political Economy (1848), On Liberty_ (1859), _Utilitarianism_ (1861), and _The Subjection of Women_ (1869).

## What Is John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism Philosophy?

Expanding on philosopher Jeremy Bentham's original doctrine, John Stuart's Mill's utilitarianism has three basic tenets:

*   Pleasure or happiness is the only thing that has true, intrinsic value.
*   Actions are right insofar as they promote happiness; wrong insofar as they produce unhappiness.
*   Everyone's happiness counts equally.

Mill espoused these theories in his 1861 essay, _Utilitarianism_.  

## What Were John Stuart Mill's Economic Beliefs?

John Stuart Mill espoused his economic theories in _Principles of Political Economy_ (a 19th-century term, equivalent to our contemporary "macroeconomics"); first published in 1848, it went through several editions as he developed and refined his ideas.

For Mill, economics is closely tied to social philosophy and politics. Wealth is the natural end product of labor, but the distribution of wealth is determined by the decisions and the will of actual people (albeit an elite class of educated people). Consequently, human laws and institutions can and should determine how wealth is distributed.  

Mill believed in the superiority of a socialist system in which economic production is driven by worker-owned cooperatives. But he also believed in free enterprise, competition, and individual initiative. Governments had a responsibility to maintain these things, as well as to prevent monopolies, look after the poor, and provide an education for young people.

## The Bottom Line

John Stuart Mill was a pivotal 19th-century British politician, philosopher, and economist whose advocacy for individual rights, gender equality, and utilitarian ethics made him a transformative thinker.

He believed that economics, philosophy, and social awareness should work together to shape public policy for the greater good. Mill's landmark works, "Principles of Political Economy_,"_ "On Liberty," "Utilitarianism," "A System of Logic," and "The Subjection of Women," cemented his influence on political philosophy and economic theory.

His progressive views on freedom, social reform, and equality continue to resonate today, underscoring his enduring impact on both liberal thought and modern discussions of the balance between individual liberty and societal well-being.

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