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Quote by John Stuart Mill

“The prevailing tendency to regard all the marked distinctions of human character as innate, and in the main indelible, and to ignore the irresistible proofs that by far the greater part of those differences, whether between individuals, races, or sexes are such as not only might but naturally would be produced by differences in circumstances, is one of the chief hinderances to the rational treatment of great social questions, and one of the greatest stumbling blocks to human improvement.”

Quote by John Stuart Mill

Work

Autobiography of John Stuart Mill

This work offers a comprehensive look into the life of John Stuart Mill, exploring his early education, his intellectual journey, and his contributions to philosophy, economics, and social theory. The autobiography provides insights into Mill's personal experiences, his interactions with influential figures of his time, and his reflections on the social and political issues of his era. more

Author

John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill was an influential British philosopher, economist, and logician. He is one of the most important figures in 19th-century philosophy and his ideas had a profound impact on political, social, and philosophical thought of the time. more

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“Mr. J.S. Mill speaks, in his celebrated work, "Utilitarianism," of the social feelings as a "powerful natural sentiment," and as "the natural basis of sentiment for utilitarian morality," but on the previous page he says, "if, as is my own belief, the moral feelings are not innate, but acquired, they are not for that reason less natural." It is with hesitation that I venture to differ from so profound a thinker, but it can hardly be disputed that the social feelings are instinctive or innate in the lower animals; and why should they not be so in man?”

“In the past, the respect people had for religion meant that ethical practice was maintained through a majority following one religion or another. But this is no longer the case. We must therefore find some other way of establishing basic ethical principles.”