Critical, Historical, and Miscellaneous Essays; Vol. 2 With a Memoir and Index

"Critical, Historical, and Miscellaneous Essays; Vol. 2" by Thomas Babington Macaulay is a book of insightful writings, mainly from the 1800s, where the author looks closely at political ideas and argues against thinkers of the time, particularly those who believed in utilitarianism, like John Stuart Mill. Macaulay's essays focus on ideas about government and what drives people, and he questions the basic beliefs of utilitarianism. He begins by criticizing Mill’s ideas in "Essay on Government," finding them not well-reasoned. Macaulay challenges Mill’s ideas about human nature and how governments should be run, arguing that utilitarianism is too simple and that real-world governing needs to consider more than just what people want for themselves. With smart thinking and strong language, Macaulay offers a careful look at the political thoughts of his time.