James Mill on Evidence

In 1826, the Westminster Review, the organ of Benthamite Radicalism, published James Mill's review of a book entitled Essays on the Formation and Publication of Opinions. The Essays were written by Samuel Bailey, a Radical who shared the commitment of Bentham, and the Mills, to rational political analysis. Bailey's argument was, that since belief is … Continue reading James Mill on Evidence →

James Mill on how the Few Oppress the Many

In an 1835 article entitled 'State of the Nation' for the London Review, the Scottish radical James Mill considered the progress of reform in Britain, and how society might be further improved. One of his objects was to illustrate how the ruling Few, throughout history, erected barriers to any reforms that might promote the interests … Continue reading James Mill on how the Few Oppress the Many →

Jeremy Bentham answers Jordan Peterson

In his exceptionally popular book, Twelve Rules for Life (2018), the Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson advised his readers to "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world." This conservative maxim, or fallacy, was answered by the great English radical, Jeremy Bentham, two hundred years ago: "Nearly akin to the cry of popular … Continue reading Jeremy Bentham answers Jordan Peterson →

James Mill on Liberty of the Press

One of James Mill's contributions to the Encyclopaedia Britannica was an article on the liberty of the press. Mill sought to mark out legitimate grounds to punish speech while defending broad freedom of discussion as an indispensable security against oppression and the surest method for discovering the truth. In summary, Mill thought that libel against … Continue reading James Mill on Liberty of the Press →

Bentham on Democracy and Reform

Jeremy Bentham is well known today as a moral philosopher; but his political thought, and the thought of those British radicals who considered him a teacher and inspiration, has been largely forgotten. This I consider to be unfortunate, not only because Benthamite radicalism is an enviable model of logic and clarity compared to other political … Continue reading Bentham on Democracy and Reform →

Charles James Fox answers the British government

The gang of idiot ministers who form the current government, and the braying donkeys in the media who support them, are now working to destroy the hard won liberties of the British people. There are calls to ban the pro-Palestine march on Saturday 11 November; there are plans being drawn up to further restrict liberty … Continue reading Charles James Fox answers the British government →

The Radical Appreciation of Thomas Hobbes

In 1839, the English radical Sir William Molesworth1 had all the works of Thomas Hobbes reprinted and published at considerable cost. George Grote, another radical, published a notice of the new edition in the Spectator that same year. The notice is a good summary of what these radicals, who were passionate democrats, considered to be … Continue reading The Radical Appreciation of Thomas Hobbes →

James Mill’s Essay on Government (1820)

The Scottish radical James Mill was invited to contribute articles to the Supplement to the Encylopaedia Britannica by Macvey Napier in 1814.1 The essay on Government was published in 1820; it presented a vigorous argument for representative democracy from first principles, condemned Britain's aristocratic constitution, and did so with impressive brevity. The essay had a … Continue reading James Mill’s Essay on Government (1820) →

Notes on Harold Wilson’s Labour Government 1964-1970

Some years ago I read Clive Ponting's book Breach of Promise: Labour in Power 1964-1970 (1990). I began to read the rest of Ponting's work after completing his biography of Churchill - a book of nearly nine hundred pages, but with such literary and analytical merit that I read it with speed and pleasure.1 Breach … Continue reading Notes on Harold Wilson’s Labour Government 1964-1970 →

J. S. Mill’s Thoughts on ‘Great Man’ History

The young John Stuart Mill wrote a short critique of 'great man' history as part of an 1824 article for the Westminster Review: ‘Romance is always dangerous, but when romance assumes the garb of history, it is doubly pernicious. To say nothing of its other evils, on which this is no place to expatiate, it … Continue reading J. S. Mill’s Thoughts on ‘Great Man’ History →