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The Birth of John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was born to James Mill and Harriet Barrow on May 20, 1806, in Middlesex, England. James Mill was a Scottish philosopher and economist, who heavily pressured and trained John Stuart Mill to a path of education. Subsequently, John Stuart Mill developed into a prodigal child, having a solid understanding of Greek and Latin studies, as well as mathematics, at just six years of age. Mill would then go on to become one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century. -
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Government Official in the East India Company
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Logic of the Moral Sciences
"Logic of the Moral Sciences" was one of Mill's first works which addressed the need for a change in scientific inquiry processes during his time. More specifically, Mill argued that social phenomena, such as customs, and traditions, should be studied using the same methods of observation and empirical inquiry that were used in natural sciences. Mill's work paved the way for the social sciences to become a more rigorous and scientific discipline, and influenced later thinkers, such as Max Weber. -
A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive
John Stuart Mill's "A System of Logic" significantly impacted the philosophy of science by introducing a new method of empirical inquiry known as "Mill's Methods." Mill's Methods consist of Method of Agreement, Method of Difference, Joint Method of Agreement and Difference, Method of Residues, and Method of Concomitant Variation. Mill's Methods largely inspired the development of the Vienna Circle, which created the "logical positivism" movement. A link is provided that explains Mill's Methods. -
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Editor of The Westminster Review
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On Liberty
Mill's "On Liberty" had more of an indirect impact on the future of the philosophy of science, but nonetheless, a significant impact. Mill argued that individual freedom was essential for human progress, and that the government should not interfere with the free expression of ideas, including not censoring scientists, in order to promote the pursuit of knowledge. The concept of individual freedom was later embraced by the scientific community as essential for the progression of science. -
Utilitarianism
Mill's "Utilitarianism" work states that the importance of an action depends on its ability to produce the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarianism also applied to science, in that it helps encourage scientists to examine the ethical considerations in scientific research. Mill believed that the concept of utilitarianism emphasized the importance of empirical evidence and rational inquiry in determining the most effective ways to promote human well-being. -
An Examination of Sir William Hamilton's Philosophy
Scottish philosopher Sir William Hamilton believed that humans could not adequately perceive the world directly through their senses, and should instead utilize priori or deductive thinking. Mill rejected this view, and argued that experimentation, based on empirical observation and induction, was essential to testing and validating scientific theories. Mill's work subsequently continued to contribute to the development of a more rigorous and empirically-based philosophy of science. -
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Member of Parliament
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Professor of Moral Philosophy
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Rector of the University of St. Andrews
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The Death of John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was an exceptional thinker, influencing how society functions even today, in politics and science. Throughout his life, whether he lived to see it or not, Mill made strides in his causes, including advancing the popularity of individual liberty, empiricism, Mill's Methods, and utilitarianism. However, unfortunately, Mill eventually passed away on May 5, 1873, at age 66, from erysipelas.