John Stuart Mill Flashcards
dates
1806-73
why is Mill so important
‘bridge’ between classical + modern liberalism
developed locke’s and wollstonecraft’s ideas
what type of liberalism is Mill’s
‘transitional liberalism’
‘developmental liberalism’
his works
‘On Liberty’ 1859
what was one of Lockes most significant ideas
negative freedom
negative freedom
freedom mainly involved an absence of restraint
what is the harm principle
individuals actions should always be tolerated by state/others
UNLESS it will harm others
what two categories did Mill divide human actions into
self-regarding
other regarding
what are self regarding actions
involved religious worship/expression of personal views
they should be tolerated as they don’t impinge on freedom of others
what are other regarding actions
violent behaviour
does harm the freedom of others
shouldn’t be tolerated
why did Mill argue for the tolerance of diverse opinions
allows new ideas to be heard
exposes bad ideas through rational debate
how was Mill’s work more sophisticated than other classical liberals such as Wollstonecraft and Locke
liberty wasn’t just a natural right and that was the end
instead its an ‘engine’ of ongoing human development
always room for improvement
human nature wasn’t a ‘finished article’
Mill’s views on a core idea of liberalism- individualism (took if further to create individuality)
‘developmental individualism’
doesn’t just focus on individuals in the present
but also what they could become
quote to demonstrate Mill’s developmental individualism
support for liberty had to be ‘grounded on the permanent interests as man as a progressive being’
what did Mill fear about democracy
‘government by consent’ would be compromised by ‘tyranny of the majority’
