What is the nature of Constant’s distinction between ancient and modern liberty and how does this distinction inform the constitutional recommendations Constant makes in his Principles of Politics? How important do you think Constant’s arguments are?
In our previous class we looked at the arguments advanced in J.S. Mill’s On Liberty and went on to consider how Mill responded to the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham and his father, james Mill.. As you know, Mill provides us with a classic liberal defence of freedom and we will need to keep it in mind when we study one of Mill’s other masterpieces, The Principles of Political Economy. Mill is often said to bridge classical and modern liberalism, and looking at his work will allow us to think about how liberalism developed in the nineteenth century. In particular, by looking at this text we will be able to see how Mill provided the grounds for moving away from the laissez-faire doctrines of the early- to mid-nineteenth century. Also of great interest are Mill’s Chapters on Socialism (which I will mention in the lecture).
Key Readings
Donald Winch (ed) J.S.Mill: Principles of Political Economy
Jonathan Riley (ed) Mill’s Principles of Political Economy and Chapters on Socialism
Mill’s text is substantial. At a minimum you should read Book IV, Chapters I, IV-VII and Book V, Chapters I, X, and XI.
Excellent, if difficult, secondary reading is found in Donald Winch, Riches and Poverty: An Intellectual History of Political Economy in Britain 1750-1834 and Wealth and Life: Essays on the Intellectual History of Political Economy in Britain, 1848-1914 (esp. pp.27-87 which are devoted to a discussion of Mill’s Principles). See also the texts cited on J.S. Mill for the previous seminar.
For general background see Roger Backhouse, The Penguin History of Economics, pp.132-65.
Seminar Questions
What does Mill take to be the general characteristics of the state of wealth? What is the significance of profits falling to a minimum?
What is the stationary state? What is Mill’s view of it?
Why is Mill concerned about the future of the labouring classes? What does he see as the way forward?
What, according to Mill, are the proper functions of government? Are his views on non-interference by the state consistent? What is the significance of the qualifications he makes to this principle?