The Probabilist Theism of John Stuart Mill

Book excerpt: Dr. Settanni's fascinating study of John Stuart Mill's outlook on religion probes certain fundamental tensions and contradictions in his thinking. What is described herein is the history of one thinker who could not fully embrace the theism of orthodox religions and yet who could never be content with skepticism either. His education in philosophic Utilitarianism led him toward agnosticism. His wife's death led him toward belief. These same tensions are present, although in an admittedly more abstract manner, in his philosophy. The text reveals how Mill attempted to resolve these contradictions by a probabilist form of Theism, and the question remains as to how ultimately successful he was.