The Other Victorians

JS MILL : PROGRESSIVE TIME & SELF-HELP

CULTURE

CUSTOM

LIBERTY

Time…………..

“Civilization”…….

“We know well enough that this isolation of the individual--this narrow-minded egotism--is

everywhere the fundamental principle of modern society. But nowhere is this selfish egotism so blatantly evident as in the frantic bustle of the

great city. The disintegration of society into individuals, each guided by his private principles and each pursuing his own aims has been pushed

to its furthest limits in London. Here indeed human society has been split into its component

atoms.” (NA, 1566)

FRIEDRICH ENGELS: CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASS IN ENGLAND

“Life will always be to a large extent what we ourselves make it.” --Samuel Smiles

• “In the part [of conduct] which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own mind and body, the individual is sovereign” (13)

• Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians, provided the end be their improvement… Liberty, as a principle, has no application to any state of things anterior to a time when mankind have become capable of being improved by free and equal discussion. (13-14)

JS MILL: “ON LIBERTY” (1859)

• “[I]n things which do not primarily concern others, individuality should assert itself” (57)

• In proportion to the development of his individuality, each person becomes more

valuable to himself, and is therefore capable of being more valuable to others.” (63,

emphasis added)

JS MILL: “ON LIBERTY,” CONT’D

“We know well enough that this isolation of the individual--this narrow-minded egotism--is

everywhere the fundamental principle of modern society. But nowhere is this selfish egotism so blatantly evident as in the frantic bustle of the

great city. The disintegration of society into individuals, each guided by his private principles and each pursuing his own aims has been pushed

to its furthest limits in London. Here indeed human society has been split into its component

atoms.” (NA, 1566)

FRIEDRICH ENGELS: CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASS IN ENGLAND