History and Historiography in Classical Utilitarianism, 1800-1865

In their historical thought, the utilitarians developed complex frameworks to learn from and negotiate the past, challenging their reputations as antihistorical thinkers and rethinking their place in nineteenth-century philosophy and political thought.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This first comprehensive account of the utilitarians' historical thought intellectually re-situates their conceptions of philosophy and politics, at a time when the past acquired new significance as both a means and an object of study. Drawing on published and unpublished writings, and set against the intellectual backdrops of Scottish philosophical history, German and French historicism, romanticism, positivism, and the rise of social science and scientific history, Callum Barrell recovers the depth with which Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, George Grote, and John Stuart Mill thought about history as a site of philosophy and politics. He argues that the utilitarians, contrary to their reputations as ahistorical and even antihistorical thinkers, developed complex frameworks in which to learn from and negotiate the past, inviting us to rethink the foundations of their ideas, as well as their place in and relationship to nineteenth-century philosophy and political thought.

Introduction:
The utilitarians, a group of influential thinkers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, are often regarded as ahistorical and antihistorical thinkers. This perception is based on their emphasis on the practical consequences of actions and their rejection of traditional philosophical theories. However, this view overlooks the fact that the utilitarians developed complex frameworks in which to learn from and negotiate the past. In this essay, we will explore the utilitarians' historical thought and argue that they were not as ahistorical as commonly believed.

Scottish Philosophical History:
The utilitarians' historical thought is deeply rooted in the Scottish philosophical tradition. The Scottish Enlightenment, which took place in the late 18th century, was a period of intellectual inquiry and experimentation that sought to develop new ideas and theories about human nature, society, and government. The utilitarians were part of this movement and were influenced by the ideas of Scottish philosophers such as David Hume, Adam Smith, and John Locke.

German and French Historicism:
In addition to their Scottish influences, the utilitarians were also influenced by the ideas of German and French historicism. Historicism was a philosophical movement that emphasized the importance of history in shaping human thought and behavior. The utilitarians saw history as a valuable source of knowledge and wisdom that could be used to guide moral and political decisions.

Romanticism:
The utilitarians were also influenced by the romantic movement, which emphasized the importance of individualism, emotion, and the natural world. Romanticism saw history as a narrative of human struggle and triumph, and the utilitarians used this narrative to argue for the importance of individual freedom and human flourishing.

Positivism:
The utilitarians were also influenced by the positivist movement, which emphasized the importance of scientific knowledge and empirical evidence in shaping moral and political decisions. The utilitarians saw science as a tool for understanding the natural world and for developing practical solutions to social problems.

The Rise of Social Science and Scientific History:
The rise of social science and scientific history in the late 19th century further influenced the utilitarians' historical thought. Social science, in particular, provided new insights into human behavior and society, which the utilitarians used to develop their ideas about the best way to promote human welfare. Scientific history, on the other hand, provided new evidence about the past that could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different moral and political systems.

Jeremy Bentham:
Jeremy Bentham, one of the most influential utilitarians, was a philosopher who believed that history was a valuable source of knowledge and wisdom. He argued that the past could be used to identify the causes of social problems and to develop practical solutions to those problems. Bentham's historical thought was influenced by the ideas of Scottish philosophers such as Hume and Smith, as well as by the ideas of German and French historicism.

James Mill:
James Mill, another influential utilitarian, was a philosopher who believed that history was a valuable tool for developing moral and political ideas. He argued that the past could be used to identify the principles of good government and to evaluate the effectiveness of different political systems. Mill's historical thought was influenced by the ideas of Scottish philosophers such as Hume and Smith, as well as by the ideas of German and French historicism.

George Grote:
George Grote, a third influential utilitarian, was a philosopher who believed that history was a valuable source of knowledge and wisdom. He argued that the past could be used to identify the principles of good government and to evaluate the effectiveness of different political systems. Grote's historical thought was influenced by the ideas of Scottish philosophers such as Hume and Smith, as well as by the ideas of German and French historicism.

John Stuart Mill:
John Stuart Mill, another influential utilitarian, was a philosopher who believed that history was a valuable tool for developing moral and political ideas. He argued that the past could be used to identify the principles of good government and to evaluate the effectiveness of different political systems. Mill's historical thought was influenced by the ideas of Scottish philosophers such as Hume and Smith, as well as by the ideas of German and French historicism.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the utilitarians' historical thought was not as ahistorical as commonly believed. They developed complex frameworks in which to learn from and negotiate the past, drawing on a range of intellectual influences such as Scottish philosophical history, German and French historicism, romanticism, positivism, and the rise of social science and scientific history. The utilitarians saw history as a valuable source of knowledge and wisdom that could be used to guide moral and political decisions. By re-examining the utilitarians' historical thought, we can gain a deeper understanding of their ideas and their place in nineteenth-century philosophy and political thought.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316519073