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person1773-1836

James Mill

Disciplines:
psychology
philosophy
political philosophy

Summary

Scottish-British philosopher, historian, and political economist who developed associationist psychology and was a close collaborator of Jeremy Bentham in the utilitarian movement.

Core Contribution

Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind: the most systematic development of associationist psychology — all mental phenomena, from sensations to complex ideas, are derived through association. Introduced J.S. Mill to classical education and utilitarian principles.

Key Spikes & Highlights

  • The education of J.S. Mill: began Greek at 3, Latin at 8, logic and political economy at 12 — J.S. Mill later described this education in his Autobiography as both an extraordinary achievement and the cause of his eventual psychological breakdown.

Notable Works & Achievements

Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind

History of British India

Historical Influences

David Hume Jeremy Bentham

Intellectual Lineage

British Empiricism Associationism

Contemporaries & Peers

Jeremy Bentham David Ricardo

Minds Influenced

J.S. Mill Alexander Bain

Intellectual Posterity

Psychology Utilitarianism

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