Mill

1
Mill

• On Liberty

2
Historical context

• Political reforms after a period of reaction
  following the French revolution (1832 Great
  Reform Bill)
• Peculiar family background
• Involvement in the administration of India
• 1859 Indian mutiny

3
Main problems

• 1 nature and limits of the power which can be
  legitimately exercised by society over the
  individual?
• Controlling the vultures without an abuse of
  power?
• Tyranny of the majority?
• 20 despotism of custom

4
Solution

• 6 The only part of the conduct of any one, for
  which he is amenable to society, is that which
  concerns others. In the part which merely
  concerns himself, his independence is, of right,
  absolute. Over himself, over his own body and
  mind, the individual is sovereign.
• Liberty of thought, discussion, association,
  action?
• Citizens can be held responsible for performing
  their obvious duties to others and society 7?
• Reform, education

5
Liberty of thought and discussion

• If right, lack of free expression deprives us of
  learning the truth
• If wrong, free expression helps to clear up
  misunderstandings
• There may be some small truth even in much drivel
  discussion brings greater clarity
• Liberty needed for development 16,
  individuality 20 15 experiments of
  living, varieties of character

6
View of human nature

• Rational rational deliberation is helped by
  discussion
• Utilitarian the individual is the best judge of
  his utility
• Utilitarianism calculation based on
  pleasure/pain rejection of natural law
• Capacity for growth, development
• Equality

7
Utility (difference from Locke?)

• 7 It is proper to state that I forego any
  advantage which could be derived to my argument
  from the idea of abstract right as a thing
  independent of utility. I regard utility as the
  ultimate appeal on all ethical questions but it
  must be utility in the largest sense, grounded on
  the permanent interests of man as a progressive
  being. Those interests, I contend, authorize the
  subjection of individual spontaneity to external
  control, only in respect to those actions of
  each, which concern the interest of other people.

8
Limitations on liberty of action

• Need for very strong justification (liberalism)
• Can be justified only by the need to prevent harm
  to others (harm principle)
• This doctrine applies only to mature individuals
  and societies

9
Harm to others?

• Must be direct
• Not bearing ones fair share of the social
  burden?
• Bottom line individual freedom is essential for
  personal growth, development

10
Proper purpose of government?

• Promotion of some common good
• (Rousseau, Burke)?
• Creating a framework allowing individuals to
  pursue their self-interest?
• Role of the free market?

11
Potential problems?

• Harm principle?
• Free choice liberty development?
• Living up to some common standards?
• Common moral framework?
• Rights vs. obligations, solidarity?
• Preemptive limitations?
• Burke The effect of liberty to individuals is
  that they may do what they please we ought to
  see what it will please them to do, before we
  risk congratulations.