J.S. Mill's understanding of the “organic” nature of socialism

Abstract

John Stuart Mill is mostly referred to as one of the classical figures of laissez-faire liberalism, without going into detail regarding, or often even mentioning, his socialism. However, Mill and his co-author Harriet Taylor, were influenced by the socialism of figures such as Henri de Saint-Simon, William Thompson, Anna Wheeler, Charles Fourier, Victor Considerant and Louis Blanc, as well as by social movements like co-operation. This influence may be discerned in Mill’s view of history as moving between critical and organic ages and leading towards Socialism.