Rational Foundations John Stuart Mill's Inductive Reasoning And The Philosophy of Feminism

Philosophy of Science

A question, claim, or statement you would like to explore:

I would like to review John Stuart Mill’s A System of Logic (1843) and argue that his principles of inductive reasoning were central to his burgeoning support of women’s liberation. I hope to suggest that Mill was not a feminist because of his political commitment to liberalism, but instead developed an entirely rational approach to feminism based on his principles of enumerative induction.

A citation from an equivalent article/report/paper within your field of interest

Jennifer Ring, “Mill’s The Subjection of Women: The Methodological Limits of Liberal Feminism,” The Review of Politics 47, no. 1 (January 1985): 27–44.

A description of what you hope your final piece of academic writing will be

I have chosen to write about the philosophy of science because I loved reading Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions and thought that attempting something similar would be very rewarding. I read Kuhn’s book as part of my science degree, and I realised that writing about science is more interesting to me than writing science itself. Science writing tends to be jargon-filled and very narrow in its focus, and it also relies on a deep understanding of mathematics that is beyond me. But Kuhn showed me that the philosophy of science is a compelling field of study, and I want to use this assessment as a chance to try something similar.

I have chosen Mill because I read The Subjection of Women (1869) and was impressed by Mill’s logical argument for legal and social equality for men and women. While it is tempting to think about Mill as a radical feminist, or to equate Mill’s liberalism with contemporary liberalism, I believe that Mill’s beliefs were predominately logic-based, rather than political or emotional. I think this is worth pursuing for a number of reasons. First, Mill is widely considered to be the father of political liberalism, and much of what we see today in the guise of liberalism—neoliberalism, libertarianism—is fundamentally different from the cool rationality of Mill and his ilk. I am interested in going back to the roots of his rational arguments in A System of Logic in order to find the ways that Mill laid the groundwork for his political liberality.

Are you struggling to keep up with the demands of your academic journey? Don't worry, we've got your back! Exam Question Bank is your trusted partner in achieving academic excellence for all kind of technical and non-technical subjects.

Our comprehensive range of academic services is designed to cater to students at every level. Whether you're a high school student, a college undergraduate, or pursuing advanced studies, we have the expertise and resources to support you.

To connect with expert and ask your query click here Exam Question Bank