Who was John Stuart Mill?
John Stuart Mill lived in England in the 19th century, during a time when many people wanted to improve society and make it fairer.
His father, James Mill, was a philosopher and a close friend of Jeremy Bentham, who had developed an early version of the idea that happiness should guide our moral choices.
Mill grew up surrounded by these ideas and began studying philosophy, history, and economics at a very young age.
However, he did not simply repeat what he had been taught. He developed his own ideas and became one of the most important thinkers in the history of ethics.
Mill also cared deeply about justice and equality. He was one of the first politicians in Britain to argue publicly that women should have the right to vote.
He believed that a fair society is one in which everyone’s happiness is taken into account—not just the happiness of those in power.
Think about it:
Think about a choice you made recently. Did you consider how it would affect the people around you, or only yourself?
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Statue av John Stuart Mill
What did John Stuart Mill believe?
John Stuart Mill believed that we should judge our actions by their consequences.
The right thing to do is what produces the most happiness for the greatest number of people. This idea is known as the greatest happiness principle.
This way of thinking is called consequentialism. Unlike thinkers who focus on rules or duties, Mill argued that what matters most is the result of what we do.
And the happiness we aim for is not just our own, it includes everyone affected by our actions.
Does this sound easy? It can be harder than it seems, because we often do not know what will happen in advance.
Example: Should you speak up?
Imagine that a friend has copied someone else’s homework. You know about it.
If you say nothing, your friend is happy, they got a good mark without doing the work.
But what about the person whose homework was copied? And what about the rest of the class, who did the work themselves?
Mill would say: do not just think about your friend. Think about everyone involved.
The right choice is the one that creates the most fairness overall, even if it is uncomfortable.
What would you do?
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The greatest happiness
Mill did not just write about these ideas, he tried to put them into practice.
He believed that a good society is one that works to create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
This meant caring about fairness, education, and giving everyone an equal voice. He was one of the first members of the British Parliament to argue that women should have the right to vote—something that was almost unheard of at the time.
Mill also believed that not all happiness is the same. He made a distinction between simple pleasures and deeper ones.
Enjoying a meal is good, but understanding something new or creating something meaningful brings a different kind of satisfaction.
Mill believed this deeper form of happiness matters more, because it helps us grow.
What do you think?
Is there a difference between happiness that lasts and happiness that fades quickly?
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Your freedom and the wellbeing of others
Another important idea from John Stuart Mill is that people should be free to live the way they want, as long as they do not harm others.
This idea is known as the harm principle, and it is one of Mill’s most important contributions to philosophy.
Imagine this
A student posts something hurtful about a classmate online. They might say:
It’s just my opinion. I have the right to say what I think.
Mill would respond differently.
Having the freedom to express yourself does not mean you can say anything, especially if it causes real harm to someone else.
This idea applies to many everyday situations.
You are free to play loud music, but not if it keeps your neighbour awake.
You are free to share your opinion, but not if it turns into bullying.
Mill believed that freedom is essential, but it has clear limits: your freedom ends where harm to others begins.
What do you think?
Where should we draw the line between personal freedom and responsibility for others?
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What is good about Mill’s way of thinking?
John Stuart Mill’s way of thinking can be seen as both practical and fair.
If we think about consequences before we act, there is less room for selfish choices.
Instead of asking, “What do I want?”, we ask, “What will create the best outcome for everyone?”
No one’s happiness counts more than anyone else’s.
You probably know the feeling when someone makes a decision that only benefits themselves. Mill’s way of thinking helps us notice this—and question it.
Mill also believed that not all forms of happiness are equal.
He thought that pleasures of the mind, like learning, creating, or understanding something deeply, are more valuable than simple physical pleasures.
This does not mean that everyday enjoyment is unimportant. But Mill believed that a life with curiosity, growth, and meaningful experiences is richer than one focused only on comfort.
What do you think?
Is it always a good idea to think about the consequences of what we do?
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Studenter som går arm i arm
What can be difficult?
John Stuart Mill’s way of thinking can be challenging in practice.
We cannot always predict what will happen.
Imagine that you help a friend by lending them your notes before an exam. Your intention is good. But what if they stop studying on their own because they rely on your notes?
The outcome is not what you expected.
There is also a more difficult question: what happens when making most people happy means being unfair to a few?
Sometimes, focusing only on results can also feel wrong.
Imagine that lying to someone would make everyone in a group feel better. The outcome seems positive. But many people would still say that lying is wrong, no matter what happens.
This is where Mill’s way of thinking meets its limits.
What do you think?
How do we know when consequences are enough to guide us, and when we also need rules?
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Balansen mellom flertallet og mindretallet
Mill and Kant: Rules or consequences?
John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant represent two very different ways of thinking about ethics.
Kant’s approach is called duty ethics. He believed that some actions are always right or always wrong, regardless of the outcome.
His key question is:
Can what I am doing become a rule for everyone?
Mill starts from a different place.
What matters is not the rule behind the action, but what the action actually leads to.
His key question is:
Does this lead to more happiness or more suffering?
You may recognise both ways of thinking in your own life. Sometimes we follow rules because we believe they are right. Other times, we focus on what will lead to the best outcome.
What do you think is more important? Following principles, or creating good results?
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Statue av John Stuart Mill og Immanuel Kant
Why is Mill relevant today?
John Stuart Mill is still relevant because the kinds of choices we face today often affect more than just ourselves.
Every day, we make decisions that impact other people: what we share online, how we act in a group, whether we speak up or stay quiet.
In these situations, Mill’s question becomes important: Will what I do make things better or worse for everyone involved?
His thinking encourages us to pause, look beyond our own perspective, and consider the bigger picture.
Think for yourself!
Have you ever made a choice based on what you thought would lead to the best result?
Did it turn out the way you expected?
Can thinking about consequences sometimes lead to problems? Think of a situation where you could not predict what would happen.
What do you think is more helpful: having clear rules, or deciding case by case based on consequences?
Think about a decision you made recently.
Would Mill agree with your choice? Would Kant?
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Sources
- John Stuart Mill. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill/
- Mill’s Moral and Political Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill-moral-political/
- Mill, John Stuart: Ethics | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/mill-eth/
- Utilitarianism | Definition, Philosophy, Examples, Ethics, Philosophers, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/utilitarianism-philosophy
- The History of Utilitarianism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/
- John Stuart Mill Amendment – UK Parliament. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/houseofcommons/reformacts/from-the-parliamentary-collections/collections-reform-acts/great-reform-act112/
- Utilitarianism: John Stuart Mill | God and the Good Life. https://godandgoodlife.nd.edu/resource/utilitarianism-john-stuart-mill/
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