On Thursday, October 6th, Dr. Vince Bagnulo delivered an Inklings presentation entitled “Is John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty Still Relevant?” After outlining the argument of On Liberty, Dr. Bagnulo examined Mill’s idea of progress in light of August Comte’s philosophy of history. He argued that a theory of historical progress, largely drawn from Comte, underpinned Mill’s argument in On Liberty. Although the work continues to offer concrete insights on freedom and the dangers of social pressure, Dr. Bagnulo contended that since theories of historical progress, including Comte’s, are generally no longer found plausible, On Liberty’s dependence on such theories makes its overall argument less persuasive and less relevant today.
One attendee observed that “Dr. Bagnulo explained Mill’s philosophy in a detailed yet simple manner that was very accessible to students. His exploration of On Liberty has piqued my interest in political theory and has landed Mill on my winter reading list. I look forward to seeing how Dr. Bagnulo develops this aspect of his research in the future.”
