Examination of Sir William Hamilton’s Philosophy

John Stuart Mill's Examination of Sir William Hamilton's Philosophy (1865) was a critique of Sir William Hamilton's philosophical views, particularly his defense of "common sense" philosophy and his doctrine of the "quantification of the predicate" in logic. Mill aimed to counter what he saw as the "fortress of intuitional philosophy" in Great Britain, which Hamilton represented.12

Sir William Hamilton (1788–1856) was a Scottish philosopher and educator known for his contributions to metaphysics and logic. He attempted to synthesize the Scottish "philosophy of common sense" with the ideas of Immanuel Kant, introducing Kant to the British public. Hamilton's work on logic involved modifying traditional propositions to expand classification. Mill's examination, however, was largely driven by political motives, seeking to dismantle Hamilton's philosophical influence.12