Examine js mill noyion of liberty in 500 words
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Answer:
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Explanation:
John Stuart Mill was one of the foremost liberal theorists of the 19th century, binding modern and classical liberalism in his ideas. His defence of liberty however, has been greatly contested by traditionalist views but also highly defended by revisionist views as will be examined in his paper On Liberty (1859). Mill’s belief in individualism through utilitarian ethics appears contradictory and highly debated. His harms principle and his assumptions on human nature also submit to controversial views. On one hand, traditionalists condemn Mill as a highly inconsistent thinker and his work On Liberty very critical in itself, but on the other hand, revisionists see Mill as a consistent thinker who naturally refines and develops pre-existing liberal ideas.
J.S. Mill’s father, James Mill, was a strong utilitarian theorist [1] . His beliefs along with the utilitarianism works of British philosopher Jeremy Bentham had a huge influence on J.S. Mill growing up [2] . In Mill’s essay On Liberty, we can examine how his defence of individualism with utilitarian contentions create critical views. Mill believes in the ethic of utilitarianism in that the state and individuals ought to be judged by their ability and action to promote “the greatest happiness for the greatest number” of people [3] , however as traditionalists see it, attaining the utmost social good involves forfeiting certain individuals and sacrificing their happiness [4] , because happiness of a majority is greater than the happiness of a few individuals. Thus, the rudiment of utilitarianism is in dispute with Mill’s beliefs in individuality and self-development.
In On Liberty, Mill defends freedom of the individual against “tyranny of the majority” [5] where dominant groups, more so the dominance of “public opinion”, inhibits lesser individuals [6] . Mill’s objection to the majority of society excluding the minority contradicts his utilitarian ethic. 19th Century English critic James Fitzjames Stephen condemns Mill’s endeavour to defend individual liberty from a utilitarian viewpoint by arguing that, if the fundamental value for utilitarianism is to effectively enhance happiness of a society to the greatest extent, “then a consistent utilitarian policy of social betterment will not be especially tender toward individual liberty” [7] , the interest of the majority outweigh the rights of the individual minority. Stephen views that utilitarian principles pursues social welfare through restricting opinions of some members of society [8] and that individualism cannot be viewed with a utilitarian ethic J.S. Mill attempts to do.