Politics, Religion and Classical Political Economy in Britain : John Stuart Mill and His Followers

The book examines tensions in classical political economy by describing and analysing changes in J.S. Mill's economic and religious thought late in life, and assesses the influence of Mill's disciplines on these shifts. Mill's followers, surprisingly, were divided into two opposing camps. Influenced by the `heterodox' group-opponents of Ricardian political economy - and by pressing political concerns, Mill modified his principles in ways he would not earlier have countenanced. This resulted in inconsistencies and evasions in his final essays, which greatly upset the 'orthodox' contingent. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-14 The Politics of Mill’s Political Economy....Pages 15-24 The Religion of Humanity....Pages 25-33 Mystifying Morley: Developments in Mill’s Religious Beliefs....Pages 34-43 Confounding Cairnes: Developments in Mill’s Economic Thought....Pages 44-68 Front Matter....Pages 69-69 The Mill Circle....Pages 71-82 John Elliot Cairnes....Pages 83-100 Henry Fawcett....Pages 101-109 William Thomas Thornton....Pages 110-127 Thomas Edward Cliffe Leslie....Pages 128-146 Conclusion....Pages 147-159 Back Matter....Pages 160-228