Mill could not believe in liberty because he was a utilitarian. Discuss

Mills conception of utility is founded off a more sophisticated and perhaps more elitist version of Benthamite utility. Bentham’s utility embraces a crude conception of happiness which is pleasure in the absence of pain, this gave utilitarianism the title ‘philosophy of the swine’ with a hedonistic conception of happiness as physical wellbeing. Where Bentham points out that pushpin and poetry are equal, Mill highlights that poetry generates higher pleasure than pushpin due to its intelligent aspect. Mill has a less crude conception in which happiness can only be generated by higher pleasures. For him there are higher and lower pleasures, higher pleasures which develop individuality. Therefore, inherently due to Mills definition of happiness and utility, individual liberty and utility are compatible. Mill states that humans and animals have different faculties of happiness, and once humans become aware of this they can only achieve happiness when the activity is gratifying. Lower pleasures would be likened to Bentham’s ideals of maintaining a basic standard of living through food and shelter essentially living like animals. 
Following Mill’s breakdown most likely due to his excessive education in utilitarianism, he embraced characteristics of individuality into his conception. Mill highlights that happiness is the most important aspect of living, happiness can only be achieved through individuality which equates to individual liberty. Bentham aimed to improve the conditions of the ordinary masses whereas Mill was more interested in individual liberties protecting individuals from the moral tyranny of the majority. In doing so, Mill states that ‘individuals experiment of living are important’ in allowing society to progress. By allowing individuality, society as a whole will progress as it becomes more open minded to change and tolerant. Progressive beings lead to a progressive society. Mill’s positive conception of liberty which embraces development of humans through education, not in a bookish sense however, is compatible with utilitarianism where individual development leads to debate. Debate is the only way in which true ideas will pertain in society and make society better. There should thus be freedom of speech as well as emancipation of women especially from labour laws.