John Stuart Mill's Politics: Ideas and Context

John Stuart Mill is arguably the most important figure in modern political philosophy. The archetypal liberal, most famous utilitarian, most influential apologist for free speech, architect of feminism, defender of empire, innovative economist: these are just some of his claims to fame. This course provides a detailed introduction to Mill's political thought and places his ideas within several of the contexts most salient to their development. We consider major works as well as lesser-known texts. In addition, this seminar highlights aspects of his career as a journalist, bureaucrat, and politician.