Mill argues that power of government should interfere with individual liberty only to
prevent harm to others: "your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose."
- self abuse is okay
- does not apply to minors or barbarians (backward societies)
Utility is ultimate appeal on ethical grounds
- maximize pleasure
- minimize pain
- felicitus calculus: greatest good for greatest number
- permanent interests of man as a progressive being—is this collective interest?
Region of human liberty
- consciousness and conscience—thought and feeling & expression/publication of
opinions
- tastes and lifestyles
- combination and collective action
Necessity of freedom of expression and need to exchange dissenting opinions
- to find truth
- to grasp (living) truth
- for finding whole truth
Necessity of freedom of individual practices
- possible improvement
- foster energetic, critical, thoughtful pursuits
- danger of persecution
Problem of society's rights versus individual liberty
- extent ot social harm defined: competition, pandering, fathering
- extent of social obligation: fraternal and contractual
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) British philosopher,
utilitarian, raised by father to be ideal Benthamite
utilitarian man; serious issues; kept man (married
Harriet Taylor, friend/patron's widow), early liberal
feminist writer.
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