The age of the universal consumer: a reconsideration of Ricardo's politics

Terry Peach

The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, 1997, vol. 4, issue 2, 217-236

Abstract: This paper reconsiders Ricardo's political thought, its relationship with his political economy and, more generally, Ricardo's connection with the 'philosophical radicalism' of Bentham and James Mill. It is arguedinter alia, that Ricardo's politics were utilitarian and individualistic; that he developed a notion of a shared, homogeneous interest; that he believed that individuals should know their 'real' interests as a condition for their suffrage; and that he subscribed to a doctrine of virtual representation. It is also argued that Ricardo was considerably less 'radical' in his political views than some previous commentators have recognized.

Keywords: Ricardo; individualism; utilitarianism; philosophic radicalism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1997
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DOI: 10.1080/10427719700000037

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