Editing James Mill (section)

===British politics===
Mill also played a great part in British politics, and was a dominant figure in the establishment of what was called "[[Philosophical Radicals|philosophic radicalism]]". His writings on government and his personal influence among the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] politicians of his time determined the change of view from the [[French Revolution]] theories of the rights of man and the absolute equality of men to the claiming of securities for good government through a wide extension of the franchise. It was under this banner that the [[Reform Bill]] was fought and won. His ''Elements of Political Economy'' followed up the views of his friend [[David Ricardo]]. By 1911, the [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] described it as being of mainly historical interest, "an accurate summary of views that are now largely discarded".{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=453}} Among the more important of its theses are:{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=453}}
# that the chief problem of practical reformers is to limit the increase of population, on the assumption that capital does not naturally increase at the same rate as population (ii. § 2, art. 3)
# that the value of a thing depends entirely on the quantity of labour put into it; and
# that what is now known as the "[[unearned increment]]" of land is a proper object for taxation.