Composite image of Harriet Taylor Mill, John Stuart Mill, and James Mill against a serene background, symbolizing their impact on utilitarianism, liberty, and individual rights.

John Stuart Mill: Theory of Human right, liberty and Economics

by History of Western philosophyPhilosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Mill expanded Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism by introducing the concept of “higher pleasures,” which prioritise intellectual, emotional, and moral fulfilment over basic sensory satisfaction. His nuanced view redefined happiness as a multifaceted pursuit essential to individual and societal flourishing.
⚫Mill’s philosophy places personal autonomy at its core, arguing for the protection of individual freedom as long as it does not harm others. His Harm Principle remains a cornerstone of debates on free speech, civil liberties, and societal progress.
⚫In A System of Logic, Mill emphasised empirical observation and inductive reasoning as the bedrock of human understanding. His inductive methods, though foundational in scientific inquiry, faced challenges due to the inherent uncertainties of predicting the future based on past patterns.
⚫Mill’s work in political economy, particularly in Principles of Political Economy, underscores the moral obligation of balancing wealth distribution with economic efficiency. He advocated for reforming capitalism to ensure fairness while supporting innovation and productivity.
⚫Through The Subjection of Women, Mill argued that the subordination of women was not only unjust but also detrimental to societal progress. His advocacy for equal opportunities in education, employment, and politics laid the groundwork for modern feminist movements.

Portrait of Jeremy Bentham, founder of Utilitarianism, with hands clasped, representing his reflective nature and influence on British radical thought.

Jeremy Bentham: The Radical Thinker Behind Utilitarianism and British Legal Reform

by History of Western philosophyPhilosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Utilitarianism took root in practical British soil. Bentham aimed for happiness, not abstract ideals. It was ethics with boots on the ground.
⚫Two rules ruled Bentham’s world: cause and effect, and maximum happiness. Behavior could be guided; joy, maximized. Simple ideas, big impact.
⚫Bentham saw punishment as prevention, not vengeance. Laws should boost society, not crush it. Justice meant balancing deterrence with humanity.
⚫Utilitarianism’s ideas took root everywhere. Malthus inspired Darwin; Bentham nudged socialism. Bentham’s legacy: influence across fields.

A dual-image collage featuring an illustrated portrayal of Lord Byron in armor on the left, symbolizing his aristocratic rebellion, and an engraved portrait of Byron on the right, reflecting his introspective and vulnerable nature.

The Myth of Byron: How His Romantic Rebellion Transformed European Thought

by History of Western philosophyPhilosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Byron’s literary works and defiant way of life questioned aristocratic conventions, therefore reflecting the Romanticism and altering European intellectual life.

⚫His dedication to freedom—including involvement in the Greek War of Independence—showcased the ability of artists as social change agents.

⚫Byron’s presentation of Napoleon as a tragic hero connected with Romantic ideas since it emphasised his obsession with personal independence versus persecution.

⚫In Byron’s writings, the Romantic hero ideal mirrored and inspired Nietzsche’s philosophical views about uniqueness and questioning social conventions.

⚫With themes of authenticity and resistance still fundamental to debates on love, morality, and identity, Byron’s legacy shapes literature still.

19th-century illustration of the capitalist system pyramid with portraits of Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, and a depiction of Hegel.

How 19th-Century Thought Shaped Modern Philosophy and Politics

by History of Western philosophyPhilosophyWestern Philosophy

• 19th-century Romanticism emphasized emotional depth and nationalism, influencing totalitarian regimes and challenging rationalist paradigms.
• German idealism, particularly Kant and Hegel, reshaped philosophical thought and linked philosophical evolution to political realities.
• French revolutionary thinkers like Helvétius and Condorcet advanced human rights, rational governance, and social equality.
• Industrialization redefined human relationships with power and prompted economic theories addressing capitalism, inequality, and labor alienation.
• Tensions between industrial capitalism and democracy fostered socialism and radical ideologies, influencing modern political discourse.

AI-generated portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Enlightenment philosopher known for works like The Social Contract and Émile.

The Philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: His Revolutionary Ideas

by History of Western philosophyPhilosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Rousseau’s philosophy argued that civilization corrupts inherent human goodness, emphasizing the corrupting influence of societal constructs like private property.
⚫”The Social Contract” introduced the concept of the general will, advocating for political structures that prioritize collective interests over individual desires.

⚫Rousseau’s work “Émile” revolutionized educational philosophy by promoting experiential learning and the natural development of a child’s autonomy and moral character.

⚫His ideas on popular sovereignty and the legitimacy of government influenced democratic governance and were pivotal to the French and American Revolutions.

⚫Rousseau’s critique of inequality and societal constructs inspired later socialist theories and redefined the relationship between individuals and the state.

emotion and rebellion influence philosophy

The Romantic Movement: How Emotion and Rebellion Shaped Modern Philosophy

by History of Western philosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Romanticism championed emotion and the individual experience over the Enlightenment’s rationalism, profoundly reshaping modern philosophical discourse.
⚫Its focus on the inner life and subjective experience laid the groundwork for existentialist thinkers such as Nietzsche and Kierkegaard (always handy when you’re grappling with the meaning of life or a particularly gloomy Sunday afternoon).
⚫The movement advocated for individual rights and fueled social change, encouraging political rebellion against rigid structures and ideals.
⚫Romanticism’s critique of industrialization has inspired modern environmental movements and deepened humanity’s appreciation for nature (arguably, the only thing standing between us and a dystopian concrete jungle).
⚫Its emphasis on cultural identity and nationalism—often expressed through local folklore and myth—left a lasting mark on political ideologies.

Side-by-side portraits of Arthur Schopenhauer as a young man and in his later years

Schopenhauer: The Philosopher Who Found Peace in Pessimism

by History of Western philosophyPhilosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Schopenhauer introduced the concept of the “Will” as the irrational driving force causing perpetual human discontent.
⚫He asserted that true happiness is unattainable, proposing aesthetic contemplation and asceticism to transcend suffering.
⚫Schopenhauer’s philosophy emphasized the importance of minimizing desires and practicing compassion to alleviate suffering.
⚫His work drew significant influence from Eastern philosophies, particularly Buddhism, regarding the relinquishment of desire.
⚫Schopenhauer profoundly impacted existentialism and psychoanalysis, influencing notable thinkers like Nietzsche and Freud.

Collage of key figures in German Idealism: Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.

German Idealism: Key Concepts and Influences

by PhilosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫German Idealism views history as a rational, dialectical process progressing through contradictions and synthesis.
⚫Immanuel Kant’s transcendental idealism distinguishes between phenomena (experience) and noumena (things-in-themselves), shaping human knowledge.
⚫Hegel’s dialectical method (thesis-antithesis-synthesis) emphasizes the evolution of consciousness through resolving contradictions.
⚫German Idealism prioritizes intrinsic moral values and duty over consequentialist ethics, as seen in Kant’s and Fichte’s philosophies.
⚫The movement influenced existentialism, phenomenology, and Marxist theory, significantly impacting modern philosophical and political thought.

Portraits of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, a key figure in German Idealism and 19th-century philosophy, known for his dialectical method and the concept of the Absolute.

Hegel’s Philosophy: Geist, Dialectics, and History

by History of Western philosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Hegel’s dialectical method involves a triadic structure: thesis, antithesis, synthesis, driving progress through contradictions.
⚫The Absolute Idea represents the ultimate truth, integrating finite and infinite elements in a dynamic, self-realising process.
⚫Geist, or collective human consciousness, evolves historically, reflecting the development of thought and society.
⚫Freedom is achieved through historical progression, culminating in a rational, ethical community or state.

A classical portrait of Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling, depicted in a dark 19th-century suit with a thoughtful expression, set against a warm, shadowed background in the style of Joseph Karl Stieler.

Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Von Schelling: Philosophy of Nature, Mythology, and Identity

by History of Western philosophyWestern Philosophy

⚫Schelling’s Philosophy of Nature views nature as a dynamic, self-organising force driven by polar oppositions.
⚫His Identity Philosophy unifies self and world, highlighting the interconnectedness of all beings within the cosmos.
⚫The concept of the Absolute integrates subject and object, emphasising freedom and the evolving nature of existence.
⚫Schelling’s mythology explores cultural identity and consciousness, revealing metaphysical truths through mythological narratives.