Audiobook · read by volunteers
Three Essays on Religion
John Stuart Mill (1806–1873)
Read by Leon Mire, Sunny Shields, Ted Garvin, JoeD, hearhis · 18 chapters · 6 h 18
About the book
What is nature, and should we follow it? Is religion useful to human beings, even if it cannot be proved true? Might there be a God who is good but not all-powerful? In these three essays, written at different times in his life and published after his death, John Stuart Mill takes up the great questions of belief with the same clarity and fairness that he brought to politics and ethics. The first two, Nature and The Utility of Religion, date from the 1850s, and the third, a longer essay called Theism, from 1868 to 1870. Mill argues carefully, weighing evidence and avoiding both easy faith and easy scorn. Over six hours, this is a demanding but rewarding exploration of a classic debate. A thoughtful meeting with a famous sceptic.
Introduction
John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) was an English philosopher and economist, one of the most influential thinkers of the nineteenth century. He is best known for On Liberty and Utilitarianism. The Three Essays on Religion were published in 1874, a year after his death, with an introductory notice by his stepdaughter Helen Taylor. They show a side of his thought that he had kept mostly private during his life.
The recording begins with Helen Taylor’s notice, then proceeds through Nature in several parts and the other essays. Mill’s style is orderly, with a series of reasoned steps leading to his conclusions. He treats religion with respect while insisting on honest examination of its claims. His discussion of nature questions the idea that nature is a model for human conduct, and his thoughts on religion remain a significant contribution to the debates of his time and ours.
The text rewards slow listening, and the arguments are easier to follow when heard than they may be on the page. It is a fine companion for anyone interested in philosophy or the history of ideas.
Eighteen recordings, about 6.3 hours in all, are shared among several LibriVox volunteers: Helen Taylor’s notice first, then four parts each for Nature and The Utility of Religion, and nine sections for Theism, the longest of the three essays. The structure makes it easy to hear one essay at a time, which is the best way to follow Mill’s step-by-step reasoning. Theism, written between 1868 and 1870, is the one to hear last: it weighs the arguments for a creator and sets out what Mill thought could reasonably be hoped, and it takes the largest share of the recording.
Public domain
John Stuart Mill died in 1873: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text