Millism

Millism describes the beliefs of the 19th century philosopher, political economist and Member of Parliament, John Stuart Mill. He believes that the individual ought to be free to do as they wish unless they cause harm to others, individuals are rational enough to make decisions about their well being, and that it is not a crime to harm oneself as long as the person doing so is not harming others. He favours the Harm Principle: "The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a Civilized Community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." He excuses those who are "incapable of self-government" from this principle, such as young children or those living in "backward states of society". He believes that "harms" may include acts of omission as well as acts of commission. Thus, failing to rescue a drowning child counts as a harmful act, as does failing to pay taxes, or failing to appear as a witness in court. He opposed slavery and supported Feminism and animal rights, and JS Mill can be considered among the earliest male proponents of gender equality.

Economic Beliefs
JS Mill's early economic philosophy was one of free markets. However, he accepted interventions in the economy, such as a tax on alcohol, if there were sufficient utilitarian grounds. He also accepted the principle of legislative intervention for the purpose of animal welfare. "The reasons for legal intervention in favour of children, apply not less strongly to the case of those unfortunate slaves and victims of the most brutal part of mankind, the lower animals."Principles of Political Economy (book 5, chap. 11, sect. 9). He originally believed that "equality of taxation" meant "equality of sacrifice" and that progressive taxation penalized those who worked harder and saved more and was therefore "a mild form of robbery". Given an equal tax rate regardless of income, Mill agreed that inheritance should be taxed. A utilitarian society would agree that everyone should be equal one way or another. Therefore, receiving inheritance would put one ahead of society unless taxed on the inheritance.

Later he altered his views toward a more  bent, adding chapters to his Principles of Political Economy in defense of a socialist outlook, and defending some socialist causes. Within this revised work he also made the radical proposal that the whole wage system be abolished in favor of a co-operative wage system. Nonetheless, some of his views on the idea of flat taxation remained, albeit altered in the third edition of the Principles of Political Economy to reflect a concern for differentiating restrictions on "unearned" incomes, which he favored, and those on "earned" incomes, which he did not favour.

Ethical Beliefs
Mill holds that “[a]ctions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure.” Straightforwardly then, since animals can feel pain and pleasure (which, unlike Descartes, Mill freely grants), then actions involving causing them pain can be ethically objectionable. Mill ultimately envisions a universe free from pain “secured to all mankind; and not to them only, but, so far as the nature of things admits, to the whole sentient creation”.

Granted that any practice causes more pain to animals than it gives pleasure to man; is that practice moral or immoral? And if, exactly in proportion as human beings raise their heads out of the slough of selfishness, they do not with one voice answer 'immoral', let the morality of the principle of utility be for ever condemned.''" — John Stuart Mill

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