JS Mill 1806-73 Flashcards
book
on liberty 1859
“negative freedoms”
These were freedoms mainly involved with an absence of restraint
the “harm principle”
the notion that individuals actions should always be tolerated, by either the state or the individual, unless it could be demonstrated that they would harm others
“self regarding” and “other regarding”
he former did not impinge of the freedoms of others in society and therefore should be tolerated. The later clearly did harm freedoms of others in society and therefore should not be tolerated by liberal states.
why was the tolerance of diverse opinions especially important?
because it would ensure that new ideas would emerge whilst bad ideas were left out in the open.
how did Mills arguments give something more sophisticated than classical liberalism? Liberty and Human Nature
He saw liberty not just as a natural right but as an engine of ongoing human development. As such human nature was never a finished article, but an ongoing human development.
Induviduality
He did not just want to liberate individuals as they were present instead he pondered what individuals could become. “its better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig dissatisfied”
what did any support of liberty have to be?
“grounded on the permeant interests of man as a progressive being”
concerns over tyranny of the majority
concerned that the timeless liberal principle of “government by consent” would be compromised if the wishes of individual citizens were overwhelmed by the wishes of most individual citizens. He feared “tyranny of the majority”.
