Contents
John Stuart Mill
1. Who is known as the founder of Utilitarianism:
(a) Jeremy Bentham
(b) James Mill
(c) John Stuart Mill
(d) None of these
Ans. (a) Jeremy Bentham
2. Which among the following is not a work of Mill:
(a) System of Logic(1843)
(b) Principle of Political Economy(1848)
(c) Utilitarianism(1863)
(d) None of these
Ans. (d) None of these
3. The famous book ‘ On Liberty ‘ is written by:
(a) John Locke
(b) John Stuart Mill
(c) Jeremy Bentham
(d) James Mill
Ans. (b) John Stuart Mill
4. Who said, ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest number’:
(a) John Locke
(b) John Stuart Mill
(c) Jeremy Bentham
(d) James Mill
Ans. (c) Jeremy Bentham
5. Who said, ‘ It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied ‘:
(a) Jeremy Bentham
(b) John Stuart Mill
(c) John Rawls
(d) None of these
Ans. (b) John Stuart Mill
6. Who among the following advocates for equal rights for women:
(a) Aristotle
(b) Machiavelli
(c) John Stuart Mill
(d) Jeremy Bentham
Ans. (c) John Stuart Mill
7. The book ‘ Democracy in America’ is written by:
(a) Alexis de Tocqueville
(b) C.B. Macpherson
(c) J.S. Mill
(d) None of these
Ans. (a) Alexis de Tocqueville
8. Who among the following is known as the first exponent of positive liberalism:
(a) T. H. Green
(b) J. S. Mill
(c) John Locke
(d) None of these
Ans. (b) J. S. Mill
9. Mill strongly maintained that there is no known difference between men and women in his book:
(a) The subjection of women
(b) A Vindication of the Right of the Women
(c) On Liberty
(d) None of these
Ans. (a) The subjection of women
10. Mill was influenced by:
(a) Aristotle
(b) Plato
(c) Harriet Taylor
(d) None of these
Ans. (c) Harriet Taylor
11. Who made a distinction between ‘ self-regarding action ‘ and ‘ other-regarding action ‘:
(a) J.S. Mill
(b) James Mill
(c) Rousseau
(d) None of these
Ans. (a) J.S. Mill
12. Who among the following is not a major idea of J.S. Mill:
(a) Freedom of thought and expression
(b) Freedom of action
(c) Freedom of association
(d) None of these
Ans. (d) None of these
Books Written by John Stuart Mill
“A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive” (1843) “Principles of Political Economy” (1848) “On Liberty” (1859) “Utilitarianism” (1861) “The Subjection of Women” (1869) “Considerations on Representative Government” (1861) “Autobiography” (1873) “Three Essays on Religion” (1874) |
Important Political Contributions of John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill has a significant contributions to western political philosophy and practice:
1. Advocacy for Individual Liberty:
In “On Liberty” (1859), Mill gave his principle of individual liberty that individuals should have the freedom to act as they want without harm others. This philosophy of John Stuart Mill became a cornerstone of liberal political philosophy that emphasize the importance of protecting individual rights against societal and governmental encroachments.
2. Utilitarianism:
John Stuart Mill in his book “Utilitarianism” (1861), argued that the best actions and policies are those that promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. This principle influenced many areas of public policy, advocating for laws and institutions that maximize overall well-being.
3. Representative Government:
In “Considerations on Representative Government” (1861), Mill argued for a democratic system of government that balances popular participation with effective governance. He emphasized the importance of representative democracy, civic participation, and political accountability.
4. Women’s Rights:
John Stuart Mill was an early political thinker who advocate for gender equality. In his book “The Subjection of Women” (1869), he argued for the equal rights of women, including the right to vote, receive an education, and participate in public life. His work laid the groundwork for later feminist movements and reforms.
5. Economic Theory and Social Reforms:
In “Principles of Political Economy” (1848), Mill addressed economic issues while also advocating for social reforms. He supported measures such as progressive taxation, workers’ cooperatives, and government intervention to alleviate poverty and address social inequalities.
6. Freedom of Speech and Expression:
Mill was a strong proponent of free speech, arguing that it is essential for the pursuit of truth and the progress of society. He believed that even unpopular or controversial opinions should be allowed to be expressed and debated.
7. Colonial and International Issues:
John Stuart Mill also wrote on the role of imperialism and colonialism sometimes in a controversial way. While he believed in the civilizing mission of British colonialism and also advocated for self-rule and fair treatment of colonized peoples and reflecting a complex view of imperialism.
8. Active Political Engagement:
Jhon Stuart Mill was not only a political theorist but also an active politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Westminster from 1865 to 1868 where he promoted many of his liberal ideas, including women’s suffrage and labor rights.
John Stuart Mill’s political contributions have had an ever lasting impact on liberal political thought, shaping modern democratic principles and influencing a wide range of social and political reforms.