Chapter John Stuart Mill

Overview & Synopsis

The entry offers a brief examination of J.S. Mill’s views on work by attending especially to the Principles of Political Economy. Mill was greatly concerned with improving the conditions of the working classes yet his aim is to defend a conception of society where work is not the final goal. The culture of work is crucial for the progress of society yet its value is mainly instrumental. Once the stationary state is reached, the interest for wealth would diminish and all sorts of intellectual cultures would prevail allowing people to experiment and progress in the art of life concerning the most desirable ends of humanity.