What were the key ideas of John Stuart Mill?

What were the key ideas of John Stuart Mill?

John Stuart Mill was a prominent philosopher and political economist of the 19th century. His key ideas can be summarized as follows:

1. Utilitarianism: Mill was a strong advocate of utilitarianism, which is the ethical theory that actions should be judged based on their ability to maximize overall happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people. He believed that the ultimate goal of human actions should be to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

2. Harm Principle: Mill introduced the harm principle, which states that individuals should be free to do as they please as long as their actions do not harm others. He argued for the importance of individual liberty and the limitation of state interference in personal matters.

3. Liberty and Individuality: Mill emphasized the significance of individual liberty and the importance of allowing individuals to freely express their opinions and pursue their own interests. He believed that society benefits from the diversity of ideas and that suppressing individuality hinders progress.

4. Women's Rights: Mill was an advocate for women's rights and gender equality. He argued for equal opportunities and legal rights for women, including the right to vote and access to education.

5. Representative Democracy: Mill supported representative democracy as the best form of government. He believed that the participation of citizens in decision-making processes through elected representatives would lead to better governance and protection of individual rights.

Overall, John Stuart Mill's key ideas revolved around utilitarianism, individual liberty, the harm principle, women's rights, and representative democracy.