John Stuart Mill’s challenges the idea that in order to have more prosperity and welfare, resources need to be overly used to ensure economic growth. Conversely, he believes that constraints on our over consumptive attitudes is needed in order to improve the quality of life. Ultimately, Mill is arguing for a more qualitative way of live as opposed to a quantitative. He states that the increase of wealth is not boundless, and that the progressive state will one day come to a halt. The only logical conclusion is that this unlimited growth attitude will destroy the environment and inevitably reduced quality of life. However, he seems to write as though he knows we will always move forward, and will not heed the warning signs the environment throws our way. This article was written in 1884. We have, to this day, not slowed down. In fact, humanity is moving ever forward. Every year the Earth is pumped with more gases due to the anthropogenic caused by mankind.
Another thing I picked up on was his common idea of integrating humanity and the universe. He groups everyone and everything together as a species in which needs to work together to improve the overall universe. He pushes for education to be a main concern. It’s as if being less educated is a scape-goat, exemption from the overall economic crisis. Therefore we should include them. The “better” minds are those who are going to bring this universe to a standstill, but it will affect everyone inside it. Overall, people should take responsibility for their actions, and in the meantime cease the notion that economic growth comes from killing the Earth.
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