Educated with extreme intensity by his father, John Stuart Mill was learning Greek at the age of three. He became the most influential liberal philosopher of the 19th century, defending individual liberty, democracy and equality between the sexes. He served as a member of Parliament and wrote, with Harriet Taylor, pioneering texts on women's rights.
Core ideas
The state may limit someone only to prevent harm to others
Freedom of thought and discussion helps truth to emerge
There are higher pleasures, like those of the intellect, that are worth more than others
The tradition: Liberal utilitarian
Liberal utilitarianism combines the pursuit of the greatest well-being with a firm defense of individual liberties. Mill refined Bentham's utilitarianism and tied it to political liberalism.
