The debating tradition in Britain and the new political economy: William Thompson and John Stuart Mill at the London Co-operative Society in 1825

• Autores: Carlos Leonardo Kulnig Cinelli, Rogério Arthmar
• Localización: Nova Economia, ISSN 0103-6351, Año 28, Nº. 2, 2018, págs. 609-636
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1590/0103-6351/3583
• Títulos paralelos:
  • A tradição de debates na Grã-Bretanha e a nova economia política: William Thompson e John Stuart Mill na Sociedade Cooperativa de Londres em 1825
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • English

    Abstract: This paper reviews the debate between William Thompson and John Stuart Mill that happened at the London Co-operative Society in 1825 over the advantages of cooperation as against free competition. The general context of the controversy is provided by some historical background on British debating tradition within the working people. Next, the philosophical doctrines of Jeremy Bentham and Robert Owen are outlined as the main forces of social change in the 1820s, both of which would collide during the faceoff at the Co-operative Society. Following that, we examine William Thompson’s ideas on income distribution and the moral evils of competition. Lastly, we present John Mill’s approach to these same issues, showing that his basic conception of individual liberty did not change throughout his life, despite his late agreement with the economic benefits of cooperation. The final remarks stress the originality of the theoretical elements put forth in the debate.

  • português

    Resumo: O artigo analisa o debate entre William Thompson e John Stuart Mill ocorrido na Sociedade Cooperativa de Londres em 1825 a respeito das vantagens do cooperativismo face ao sistema competitivo. O contexto geral da controvérsia é apresentado por meio de uma revisão histórica da tradição de debates entre os trabalhadores britânicos. Após, as doutrinas filosóficas de Jeremy Bentham e Robert Owen são delineadas por se tratarem das duas principais forças de mudança social no país nos anos de 1820, as quais viriam a colidir durante o enfretamento na Sociedade Cooperativa. Na sequência, examinam-se as ideias de William Thompson sobre a distribuição de renda e os males morais derivados da concorrência. Finalmente, revisa-se a abordagem de John Stuart Mill para tais temas, mostrando-se que a sua concepção básica da liberdade individual não se modificou ao longo de sua vida, a despeito de sua posterior concordância acerca dos benefícios do cooperativismo. As conclusões realçam a originalidade dos elementos teóricos utilizados no debate.

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