WORKS

 Principles of Political Economy (1848), which combines the disciplines of

philosophy and economics and advocates that population limits and
slowed economic growth would be beneficial to the environment and increase public
goods.

 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.

 System of Logic (1843), which outlines the methods of science and how they can
be applied to social mechanics.

 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.

INTRO

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was an influential philosopher, economist, politician, and senior
official in the East India Company. A controversial figure in 19th-century Britain, he
advocated the use of classical economic theory, philosophical thought, and social
awareness in political decision-making and legislation

NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

While a passionate believer in freedom and individual rights, as an economist Mill was not a
consistent advocate of a laissez-faire system: He did favour 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.

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.

Mill attempted to recognise the relationship between societal progress and economic affairs. He
observed that social progress is not infinite and state tends to become stationary when there is no
increase in production and capital does not flow from affluent to the less-affluent.