Mill’s praise of eccentricity as a means of self-cultivation illuminates the philosopher’s unique view of discovering one’s self as a form of education. To break the chains of tradition and social authority and embrace one’s eccentricity seems, to Mill, to be a duty to both an individual and mankind. As Mill tersely claimed, “the despotism of custom everywhere is the standing hindrance to human advancement” (Mills, p.69). If an individual subscribes to Mill’s view on individuality, then they avoid the conformity of being a sheep in the crowd and get to experience society and politics from many different viewpoints and learn from the varied viewpoints of a non-conforming body of individuals. Despite this, Mills supports the idea of civilization
