“Utilitarianism” is a work of nonfiction that is not set in any particular time in place. Like many other philosophers of his day, Mill is primarily interested in outlining ethical principles he believes are universal and that therefore apply anywhere, at any time. Therefore, he is careful not to embed his argument too closely in a specific social or historical setting. Still, Mill’s essay is in many ways shaped by its historical context, as Mill responds to several key philosophical, cultural, and political developments of the mid-19th century, a time of profound social transformation across Europe and the world. This period marked the peak of the Industrial Revolution and saw major shifts in social structures and norms, prompting a reexamination of traditional Christian moral values.
Mill's essay also emerged within the context of classical liberalism, a political and philosophical tradition with roots that can be traced back to the Age of Enlightenment. As a leading figure in this tradition, Mill advocated for individual liberty, rationalism, and limited government intervention. "Utilitarianism" can thus be seen as an attempt to articulate a philosophical basis for liberal principles and policies, particularly in response to the challenges posed by industrialization. More specifically, Mill joins other proponents of classical liberalism in imagining the state as a collective institution that guarantees individual rights and creates the ideal conditions for individuals for the pursuit of individual happiness, without defining what form that happiness should take. Though Mill is more interested in this essay in broad philosophical principles than in specific political issues, he does critique the institution of transatlantic slavery, still in practice in the American South in 1861, when the essay was written.
