J. S. Mill's Influence On Political Theorists

Throughout time, political theorists have developed varied ideologies in relation to concepts such as authority and democracy based on the social situations they were raised within. For example, Plato, as a classical theorist, developed an ideology revolved around Athenian politics and his experiences within early Athenian society (Rowe, 1995, p. 18). J.S. Mill however, as a modern theorist, developed his ideologies around life in Victorian London. (Gray, 1995, p. 148). The contrast in the mentioned theorists’ upbringing inevitably results in a variation in outlooks regarding Democracy and Authority, all of which have their strengths and limitations.
The term ‘democracy’, as defined by Andrew Heywood, “literally means rule by the demos or
His father took responsibility for his education, and raised him “with the intention of equipping him for the leadership of the next generation of radicalism.” (Macleod, 2016). The intense scale of study that J.S. Mill endured inevitably impacted his mental health, and aged twenty he faced a “mental crisis” (Macleod, 2016). This crisis “left him concerned to develop what he saw as a more complex, liberal, utilitarian philosophy.” (Philip & Rosen, 2015, p. i). J.S Mill was a firm believer in representative democracy, and believed that everyone should be entitled to an education. Alongside this, he believed all adults should be allowed the right to vote, including women, “Mill saw the emancipation of women as one of the greatest changes that would regenerate society…” (Philip & Rosen, 2015, p. xli). The only limitations to this belief was those who did not contribute to society through the paying of taxes. He also reserved the opinion that the knowledgeably elite within a society should be ultimately allowed weighted votes, in order to maintain some logical progression politically. Another of J.S Mills political beliefs is known as ‘The Harm Principle’. Within this theory, he argues that the state’s power should be limited to only intervening to protect others, and society should have the freedom to do “what we like, subject to such consequences as may follow: without impediment from our fellow creatures, so long as we do not harm them…” (Mill, 2015, p. 15). One exception to this belief was regarding the protection of children and youths by their parents, as this is deemed as the parents’ responsibility to do so. (Mill, 2015, p. 15). This reinforces the liberalist opinion that freedom holds particular importance within society as a priority over social order and