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Why did John Stuart Mill support women’s suffrage and public education?

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Jeremy Bentham: auto-icon — Utilitarianism English philosopher and economist Jeremy Bentham's preserved skeleton in his own clothes and surmounted by a wax head, at University College London.

John Stuart Mill supported women’s suffrage and public education based on his utilitarian philosophy, which sought to promote the greatest happiness and progress for society.12

Regarding women’s suffrage, Mill argued that the exclusion of women from political life was a waste of human ability and talent, which hindered the progress of civilization. He believed that the worth of a state is ultimately determined by the worth of the individuals who compose it; therefore, denying women the right to vote prevented society from benefiting from their full potential. He viewed the legal and social emancipation of women as a necessary step toward a more equitable and flourishing society.13

Mill’s support for public education was similarly rooted in his belief in the importance of individual development and the free play of intelligence. He maintained that the masses could be educated to adopt the values of a liberal civilization, which he saw as essential for preventing society from becoming a "stagnant pool". For Mill, education was a vital tool for fostering the creative minds and speculative intelligence upon which he believed all true progress depended.1