John Stuart Mill has 6 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 6 narrators, with an average listener rating of 4.6★ across 20 ratings. The most-rated is Utilitarianism/On Liberty.
Utilitarianism/On Liberty
Summary
John Stuart Mill (1808-1873) was a torchbearer for liberal thought in the 19th century, including liberty of the individual and freedom of speech, and he championed women's suffrage in Parliament. A remarkable man - he learned Greek aged three and at eight had read Herodotus, Xenophon and Plato - he campaigned all his life for a just society. These two essays are his key works. In Utilitarianism (published in 1863, four years after On Liberty), Mill observes that 'the principle of utility' equates to the 'greatest-happiness principle' and that this should be the basis of an ethical life. Mill expands on this view in five chapters and deals with difficulties and criticisms, including the balance of individual versus general happiness. In On Liberty (published in 1859 and written with his wife, Harriet Taylor, who died a year earlier), Mill applied his already established views on utilitarianism to the society and the state. He discusses the necessary balances between authority and liberty; the individual must have freedom, but within a utilitarian (greatest-happiness principle) compass. Nevertheless, he considers the 'tyranny of the majority', and he acknowledges that in certain societies rule by command may benefit the majority. But he emphasises the fundamental importance of individual liberty, so long as it does not harm others. Though it has had its critics, On Liberty remains a key document and has a special resonance for world politics today.
Public Domain (P)2016 Ukemi Productions Ltd
Mill's On Liberty
Summary
Mill's thinking about freedom in civic and social life examines fundamental principles shared among conservative, liberal, and radical politicians. The life of true philosophy stands outside the political battles that are rampant in society and seeks the political wisdom that is necessary for a good life in any age. Mill's philosophical presentation and analysis of those principles stand alongside the reflections of Plato, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. When the officials of any government seek to change the laws that regulate individual liberty or when rhetoricians seek to change public opinion about what individuals should or should not be allowed to say or do, Mill's On Liberty serves as an effective antidote to the poisons of excessive intrusion into the lives of individuals. The present edition is specifically designed to employ the dual nature of rhetoric - oral and written language - and to utilize electronic technology to open Mill's text to contemporary listeners. © Agora Publications
Public Domain (P)2015 Agora, New Internet Technologies
Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill
Summary
John Stuart Mill was the most influential British philosopher of the 19th century. His works spanned a startling variety of topics including logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, and social theory. All of Mill's writings were aimed at the support and expansion of philosophical radicalism, and he had a significant influence on social theory, political theory, and political economy. His work, Utilitarianism, published in 1863, has been described as "the most influential philosophical articulation of a liberal humanistic morality that was produced in the 19th century." Utilitarianism addresses the subject of ethics, exploring the subject that has been perhaps the most puzzling for philosophers and thinkers of all ages. What is right? What is good? How can we use an understanding of the right and good to provide a moral framework that leads humanity to happiness, balance, and progress in all ways? Mill's work on this topic, though highly criticized in his own era, is still taught in university ethics courses around the world. The narration of the work is preceded by a summary that explores Mill's life and the background of his philosophy. Also included are an overview of the work, a synopsis and analysis, and an examination of the historical context of the piece. The AudioLearn edition of Utilitarianism is suitable for philosophers and students, and for all who wish to delve into history and ethical philosophy.
©2017 AudioLearn (P)2017 AudioLearn
The Autobiography of John Stuart Mill
Summary
Mill's autobiography deals primarily with the life of the mind - but it is a mind which ranks as one of the most remarkable and significant of the nineteenth century. The book memorably depicts the emergence of a brilliant child prodigy, the product of an extraordinary education which both hastened his development and brought him to the brink of suicide by the age of 21. Illumined with equal clarity is the story of John Stuart Mill's renewed commitment to life, and of the further conflicts which marked his long evolution toward maturity as a major philosopher and social thinker. Superb in its dispassionate objectivity, the Autobiography stands as a work of enduring relevance and a final testament to a rare and luminous intelligence.
Public Domain (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
On Liberty
Summary
On Liberty is a book by John Stuart Mill, one of the most celebrated philosophers on the subject of leadership and governing ideals. The book focuses on Mill's philosophy on utilitarianism which is one of his defining principles. The principles of the book are focused on developing a relationship between the ruling authority and liberty. The work was meant to be a short essay but it was expanded to cover all his principles about liberty and utilitarianism. The work begins like most of his philosophical works; by introducing the historical background about the struggle that has always existed between liberty and authority. Mill argues that in a way democracy encourages what he terms as "tyranny of the majority". He argues that the authority of the ruling class should be controlled by the liberty and the freedoms of the citizens. With these views he sets the tone for the whole book and goes into great details about the relationship between liberty and authority. Mill stated that this book was not his work alone because he collaborated with his wife Harriet Mill and this is evident especially when compared to his previous essays. The book was well received and it remains a philosophical classic.
Public Domain (P)2016 A.R.N. Publications
On Liberty
Summary
On Liberty is an 1859 philosophical treatise by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) which applies an ethical system of utilitarianism to society and the state. Mill starts with a brief overview of the meaning of liberty and proffers his basic argument in favor of liberty for the individual, to the degree that it harms no one else. The value of liberty of opinion and liberty of action are set forth in two chapters. Emphasizing the importance of individuality versus the "tyranny of the majority", he highlights the positive effects of liberty on all people and on society, as freedom enables progress and prevents social stagnation. Expounding on society, Mills discusses the appropriate level of authority that society ought to have over the individual and the obligation of that society to protect people who are incapable of exercising their own liberty. Finally, he offers particular examples and applications of his theory, in order to clarify the meaning of his claims.
Public Domain (P)2019 Woodkeep Audio