Publisher's Synopsis
Mill (1806-73) was a British philosopher, political economist and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of liberalism, he contributed widely to social theory, political theory, and political economy. His conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state and social control. A proponent of utilitarianism, an ethical theory developed by his predecessor Jeremy Bentham, he also contributed to the investigation of scientific methodology though his knowledge of the topic was based on the writings of others. He was a member of the Liberal Party and the first Member of Parliament to call for women's suffrage. In addition to his numerous essays, his major works include A System of Logic (1843), The Principles of Political Economy (1848) and On Liberty (1859). This autobiography was first published in 1873, the year of his death.
