The Growth of Philosophic Radicalism
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Author Description
This is the best available discussion of the 19th century Utilitarian movement in England--the rise of the Benthamites and the conflict between the growing economic philosophy of ruthless determinism and the resisting philosophies which emphasized human and social values. Some of the great names here are Locke, Newton, Gay, Hartley, Hume, Bentham, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, Godwin, Malthus, James Mill, Ricardo, George Grote, and others.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the historical development and intellectual foundations of the 19th-century Utilitarian movement in England, specifically the rise of the Benthamite school. Elie Halevy, a distinguished historian of political thought, utilizes a rigorous analytical framework to trace the evolution of economic philosophy and the subsequent tension between deterministic systems and competing social theories that prioritized human values.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A comprehensive analysis of the Benthamite movement and its influence on British political economy.
- Detailed examinations of key figures including Locke, Hume, Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, and James Mill.
- Exploration of the conflict between economic determinism and humanitarian social philosophies.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on the British intellectual tradition and does not provide an exhaustive global history of utilitarian thought.
- It does not cover post-19th-century developments or modern applications of these philosophical frameworks.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and historians consistently identify this text as a foundational analysis of the Utilitarian movement and its socio-economic context. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in political philosophy to fully appreciate the author's arguments.
Page Count:
554
Publication Date:
1966-01-01
Publisher:
Beacon Press
ISBN-10:
0191010200
ISBN-13:
9780191010200
Philosophy
Economics
Politics & Social Sciences
Movements
Utilitarianism
Intellectual History
History of Ideas
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