John Stewart Mill

Our book begins the discussion of John Stewart Mill by describing him as a "genius," (513). After reading this, my interest in his work was peaked. I wanted to read the work of what our book's author thought to be an intelligent man. Being fascinated by psychology, I was also curious with what Mill's style would be like due to his lack of a normal childhood.

I must admit I was instantly impressed with John Mill. I could not believe that Mill felt so strongly about the equal rights of men and women. The radical thoughts behind his writings showed me how much thought he put into them. I felt that his ideas were well develped and thought out. He certainly did not just slap down his opinions onto paper. My favorite piece was "The Subjection of Women." Mill writes, "the legal subordination of one sex to the other is wrong in itself, and now on of the chief hindrances to human improvement; and that it ought to be replaced by a principle of perfect equality, admitting no power or privilege on the one side, nor disability on the other," (521). This sentence stuck out in my mind, because it seems nearly unbelievable for a man during this time period to have such developed thoughts and ideas. Mill's extreme intellectualism was evident in his work. Mill writes further "The subjection of women to men being universal custom, any departure from it quite naturally appears unnatural. But how entirely, even in this case, the feeling is dependent on custom, appears by ample experience. nothing so much astonishes the people of istnat parts of the world when they first learn anything about England, as to be told that it is under a queen...the thing seems to them so unnatural as to be almost incredible..." (522). I enjoyed how he brought England's queen into the picture. He paints a clear image of how people have different perspectives due to their own experiences, such as having a woman as a ruler instead of a man.

I was sad to read that his dad had pressured him severely into studying and reading. It is clear that his father's constant push helped him become the "genius" he was; however, even so, it is still sad to read that he went through depression. I can understand where his depression came in, because it seems to me that the more educated one is, the more one can question life, worry about life, and wonder about life. In an essence, ignorance can be bliss. Unfortunately for Mr. Mill, he knew so much that he was never given the alternative of education. He writes, "A stupid person's notions and feelings may confidently be inferred from those which prevail in the circle by which the person is surrounded. Not so with those whose opinions and feelings are an emanation from their own nature and faculties," (525).