Review Of John Stuart Mill: A Biography By N. Capaldi

To write a biography of a philosopher\u27s life as well as his ideas requires a combination of gifts: historical knowledge, psychological insight, philosophical acumen, interpretive sense, and the ability to let the philosopher speak for himself. These gifts are on display in Capaldi\u27s engaging and revealing biography of J.S. Mill. Capaldi (College of Business Administration, Loyola Univ.) sure-handedly situates Mill in both his social and intellectual milieu, and gives due weight to Mill\u27s complicated relationship with his family, especially his distinguished father James Mill, and with England itself. Personally, Mill\u27s deep love and appreciation for Harriet Taylor is portrayed sensitively and powerfully. Philosophically, Mill is often regarded, along with Jeremy Bentham, as a classic utilitarian. But what Capaldi\u27s biography shows convincingly is that Mill took at least as much, if not more, from Romanticism than he did from the utilitarianism of Bentham and his father. Mill\u27s project, indeed, can be seen as a masterful attempt to synthesize the best in each, but, if Capaldi is correct, the synthesis tips in the direction of Romanticism, not utilitarianism. This fine biography will be of keen interest to a variety of readers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; upper-level students through professionals/practitioners