The paper is presenting a revisionist account of Mill’s feminism that does not rely solely on The... more The paper is presenting a revisionist account of Mill’s feminism that does not rely solely on The Subjection of Women, but also draws on Mill’s more radical writings on socialism. It will argue, against some feminist interpretations, that Mill is truly concerned with the exploitation of women and that he wants to raise women’s condition from being mere instruments in the world of production to being a partner in it. He shows a deep sense of the political value of a re-imagined family as a school for freedom, as just and as a means for self-development. In that sense, he anticipates the feminist slogan that “the personal is political”.
The Routledge Handbook of Applied Epistemology, 2018
This chapter aims to draw the reader’s attention to Mill’s wider body of work concerning freedom ... more This chapter aims to draw the reader’s attention to Mill’s wider body of work concerning freedom of expression. Mill’s other writings augment the more famous text of On Liberty, in ways that give a better impression of how his position on free speech fitted into a larger program of applied philosophy. Special attention is given to Mill’s focus on education and the role of a free press in improving the position of the working poor. We also assess Mill’s approach with respect to some contemporary problems to which it might be applied.
In The Political Economy of Progress, Joseph Persky argues for seeing John Stuart Mill as a consi... more In The Political Economy of Progress, Joseph Persky argues for seeing John Stuart Mill as a consistent ‘radical’ with much to offer modern ‘radical’ political discourse. In this article, I further this claim with consideration of Mill's political philosophy, as well as his political economy. Exploring Mill's commitment to radical reordering of the economy, as well as emphasizing his commitment to egalitarianism; his historically nuanced view of ‘the progress of justice’; and his desire for a transformation of social (and economic) relations allows us to see more clearly how Mill's radicalism was a specific species of socialism. That is, Mill's early radical enthusiasm for the ideals of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’ is also to be seen in his later socialism. Recognizing his ‘radicalism’ as a species of socialism allows greater understanding of the depth, importance and ‘radicalism’ of Mill's desired socialist reforms.
This paper considers an oft-criticised passage of John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women, arg... more This paper considers an oft-criticised passage of John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women, arguing that Mill’s position is misunderstood. In this passage, Mill identifies a trilemma facing women in non-ideal circumstances. Two elements of this can be satisfied, but not all three, so long as men continue to refuse to perform their domestic responsibilities. In these non-ideal circumstances, Mill privileges justice over autonomy – women ought only to be asked to do their fair share of labour, which, if they chose to marry and have children, will mean it is unfair to ask them also to work full-time outside the home.
John Stuart Mill’s assertion that his politics were best described as ‘under the general designat... more John Stuart Mill’s assertion that his politics were best described as ‘under the general designation of Socialist’ is often ignored, and – where acknowledged – blamed on his wife, Harriet Taylor. In this article, I explore this particular ‘Harriet Taylor Myth’, considering in detail Mill’s account of their co-authoring of Principles of Political Economy; Taylor’s own socialism; and the development of their views in the context of events in France in 1848. I conclude that there may be some evidence that Taylor thought France ready for communist experiments in 1849, whereas Mill disagreed, and that she thought the utility gained by securing subsistence would be more significant than he did. In itself, however, this is not enough to claim she was radically ‘more’ socialist than Mill, or that the positions which were included in Principles are not authentically ‘his’ as well as ‘theirs’. Instead of seeking to avoid Mill’s socialism by ascribing it solely to the (malign) influence of his...
In Principles of Political Economy, John Stuart Mill both provides an assessment of the workabili... more In Principles of Political Economy, John Stuart Mill both provides an assessment of the workability and desirability of some prominent contemporary forms of socialism, and sketches his own view of how society might be transformed from capitalism into socialism. His assessment of contemporary forms of socialism–particularly Owenite communism, Saint-Simonism and Fourierism–in the main determines, not that the schemes are themselves wholly unworkable, nor that the criticisms socialists level against contemporary capitalism are entirely unwarranted, but that a better solution could be found which would also not involve their potential problems (particularly for the free development of individuality). Co-operative socialism, which avoids these problems, whilst also providing solutions to the problems of capitalism, is far more favourably reviewed. It is true that Mill’s language regarding the transformation of capitalism is possibilistic rather than deterministic or normatively prescript...
ABSTRACT Harriet Taylor Mill and Anna Wheeler are two nineteenth-century British feminists genera... more ABSTRACT Harriet Taylor Mill and Anna Wheeler are two nineteenth-century British feminists generally over-shadowed by the fame of the men with whom they co-authored. Yet both made important and interesting contributions to political thought, particularly regarding deconstruction of (i) the patriarchal institution of marriage; and (ii) the current property regime which, in dominating workers, unfairly distributing the product of labour, and encouraging ‘individualism’, they believed did little to maximize the general happiness. Both were feminists, utilitarians, and socialists. How they link these elements is both interestingly similar, and interestingly different. This article has four aims. Firstly, to make a strong claim concerning their authorial hand in works often considered to be solely the work of their male co-author. Secondly, to sketch those co-authoring relationships, and consider whether Taylor and Mill may even have consciously constructed their early letters ‘On Marriage' based upon what they knew of Thompson and Wheeler’s relationship. Thirdly, to map out their shared (though not identical) claim that marriage was a form of slavery, and the proposals they offered to free women from the domination of patriarchal relationships. Fourthly, to explore the way in which both thought female emancipation would be most truly realized via cooperative socialism.
The paper is presenting a revisionist account of Mill’s feminism that does not rely solely on The... more The paper is presenting a revisionist account of Mill’s feminism that does not rely solely on The Subjection of Women, but also draws on Mill’s more radical writings on socialism. It will argue, against some feminist interpretations, that Mill is truly concerned with the exploitation of women and that he wants to raise women’s condition from being mere instruments in the world of production to being a partner in it. He shows a deep sense of the political value of a re-imagined family as a school for freedom, as just and as a means for self-development. In that sense, he anticipates the feminist slogan that “the personal is political”.
The Routledge Handbook of Applied Epistemology, 2018
This chapter aims to draw the reader’s attention to Mill’s wider body of work concerning freedom ... more This chapter aims to draw the reader’s attention to Mill’s wider body of work concerning freedom of expression. Mill’s other writings augment the more famous text of On Liberty, in ways that give a better impression of how his position on free speech fitted into a larger program of applied philosophy. Special attention is given to Mill’s focus on education and the role of a free press in improving the position of the working poor. We also assess Mill’s approach with respect to some contemporary problems to which it might be applied.
In The Political Economy of Progress, Joseph Persky argues for seeing John Stuart Mill as a consi... more In The Political Economy of Progress, Joseph Persky argues for seeing John Stuart Mill as a consistent ‘radical’ with much to offer modern ‘radical’ political discourse. In this article, I further this claim with consideration of Mill's political philosophy, as well as his political economy. Exploring Mill's commitment to radical reordering of the economy, as well as emphasizing his commitment to egalitarianism; his historically nuanced view of ‘the progress of justice’; and his desire for a transformation of social (and economic) relations allows us to see more clearly how Mill's radicalism was a specific species of socialism. That is, Mill's early radical enthusiasm for the ideals of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’ is also to be seen in his later socialism. Recognizing his ‘radicalism’ as a species of socialism allows greater understanding of the depth, importance and ‘radicalism’ of Mill's desired socialist reforms.
This paper considers an oft-criticised passage of John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women, arg... more This paper considers an oft-criticised passage of John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women, arguing that Mill’s position is misunderstood. In this passage, Mill identifies a trilemma facing women in non-ideal circumstances. Two elements of this can be satisfied, but not all three, so long as men continue to refuse to perform their domestic responsibilities. In these non-ideal circumstances, Mill privileges justice over autonomy – women ought only to be asked to do their fair share of labour, which, if they chose to marry and have children, will mean it is unfair to ask them also to work full-time outside the home.
John Stuart Mill’s assertion that his politics were best described as ‘under the general designat... more John Stuart Mill’s assertion that his politics were best described as ‘under the general designation of Socialist’ is often ignored, and – where acknowledged – blamed on his wife, Harriet Taylor. In this article, I explore this particular ‘Harriet Taylor Myth’, considering in detail Mill’s account of their co-authoring of Principles of Political Economy; Taylor’s own socialism; and the development of their views in the context of events in France in 1848. I conclude that there may be some evidence that Taylor thought France ready for communist experiments in 1849, whereas Mill disagreed, and that she thought the utility gained by securing subsistence would be more significant than he did. In itself, however, this is not enough to claim she was radically ‘more’ socialist than Mill, or that the positions which were included in Principles are not authentically ‘his’ as well as ‘theirs’. Instead of seeking to avoid Mill’s socialism by ascribing it solely to the (malign) influence of his...
In Principles of Political Economy, John Stuart Mill both provides an assessment of the workabili... more In Principles of Political Economy, John Stuart Mill both provides an assessment of the workability and desirability of some prominent contemporary forms of socialism, and sketches his own view of how society might be transformed from capitalism into socialism. His assessment of contemporary forms of socialism–particularly Owenite communism, Saint-Simonism and Fourierism–in the main determines, not that the schemes are themselves wholly unworkable, nor that the criticisms socialists level against contemporary capitalism are entirely unwarranted, but that a better solution could be found which would also not involve their potential problems (particularly for the free development of individuality). Co-operative socialism, which avoids these problems, whilst also providing solutions to the problems of capitalism, is far more favourably reviewed. It is true that Mill’s language regarding the transformation of capitalism is possibilistic rather than deterministic or normatively prescript...
ABSTRACT Harriet Taylor Mill and Anna Wheeler are two nineteenth-century British feminists genera... more ABSTRACT Harriet Taylor Mill and Anna Wheeler are two nineteenth-century British feminists generally over-shadowed by the fame of the men with whom they co-authored. Yet both made important and interesting contributions to political thought, particularly regarding deconstruction of (i) the patriarchal institution of marriage; and (ii) the current property regime which, in dominating workers, unfairly distributing the product of labour, and encouraging ‘individualism’, they believed did little to maximize the general happiness. Both were feminists, utilitarians, and socialists. How they link these elements is both interestingly similar, and interestingly different. This article has four aims. Firstly, to make a strong claim concerning their authorial hand in works often considered to be solely the work of their male co-author. Secondly, to sketch those co-authoring relationships, and consider whether Taylor and Mill may even have consciously constructed their early letters ‘On Marriage' based upon what they knew of Thompson and Wheeler’s relationship. Thirdly, to map out their shared (though not identical) claim that marriage was a form of slavery, and the proposals they offered to free women from the domination of patriarchal relationships. Fourthly, to explore the way in which both thought female emancipation would be most truly realized via cooperative socialism.
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Papers by Helen Mccabe