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John Stuart Mill: evolutionary economics and liberalism

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  • Margaret Schabas

Abstract

John Stuart Mill’s Principles of Political Economy (1848) was the dominant text in economics for about forty years. Mill was also a leading contributor to liberal thought, both economic liberalism and moral liberalism. Mill and Charles Darwin were also almost exact contemporaries. In fact, On Liberty and the Origin of Species were published in the same year (1859). Yet few scholars have delved into the possible biological or, more specifically, evolutionary context of Mill’s economics conjoined with liberalism. This paper will argue that there are some significant points of overlap, pivoting on the idea of reproduction and individual improvement. It brings out Mill’s appreciation of evolutionary thought prior to Darwin, Mill’s complex analysis of capital in biological terms, and the sense in which Mill’s appeal to the potential stationary state that secures biodiversity is also one that fosters the ideals of moral liberalism. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret Schabas, 2015. "John Stuart Mill: evolutionary economics and liberalism," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 97-111, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbioec:v:17:y:2015:i:1:p:97-111
    DOI: 10.1007/s10818-015-9196-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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