Mill’s ‘Modern’ Radicalism Re-Examined: Joseph Persky’s The Political Economy of Progress

McCabe, Helen

Abstract

In The Political Economy of Progress, Joseph Persky argues for seeing J.S. Mill as a consistent ‘radical’ with much to offer modern ‘radical’ political discourse. In this article, I further this claim with consideration of Mill's political philosophy, as well as his political economy. Exploring Mill's commitment to radical re-ordering of the economy, as well as emphasising his commitment to egalitarianism; his historically-nuanced view of ‘the progress of justice’; and his desire for a transformation of social (and economic) relations allows us to see more clearly how Mill's radicalism was a specific species of socialism. That is, Mill's early radical enthusiasm for the ideals of ‘liberty, equality, and fraternity’ are also to be seen in his later socialism. Recognising his ‘radicalism’ as a species of socialism allows greater understanding of the depth, importance, and ‘radicalism’ of Mill's desired socialist reforms.

Citation

McCabe, H. (2020). Mill’s ‘Modern’ Radicalism Re-Examined: Joseph Persky’s The Political Economy of Progress. Utilitas, 32(2), 147-164. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953820819000244

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: May 22, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 31, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 3, 2019
• Journal: Utilitas
• Print ISSN: 0953-8208
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-6183
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 147-164
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953820819000244
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2117180
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/utilitas/article/mills-modern-radicalism-reexamined-joseph-perskys-the-political-economy-of-progress/4D3BABD56F36A0300D93EE21026D4984
• Contract Date: Jun 3, 2019