John Stuart Mill was one of the most important and influential British philosophers. When one considers his overall intellectual contributions, Mill is arguably the most important intellectual figure of the nineteenth century. Covering all the key concepts of his work, Starting with Mill provides an accessible introduction to the ideas of this hugely significant thinker.

Clearly structured according to Mill's key works, the book leads the reader through a thorough overview of the development of his thought, resulting in a more thorough understanding of the roots of his philosophical concerns. Offering coverage of the full range of Mill's ideas, the book explores his contributions to metaphysics and epistemology, logic, psychology, political economy, ethics, utilitarianism, and liberalism. The book introduces the major thinkers whose work proved influential in the development of Mill's thought, including Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, Adam Smith, John Locke and the other British Empiricists. Fitzpatrick is succinct while providing a considerable amount of exposition and analysis, and he writes lucidly about the complexities of moral philosophy