Lecture 11 Mill and Taylor

Question 1

Who were John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor-Mill?

Answer 1

J.S. Mill (1806-1873) was a British philosopher and liberal thinker. Harriet Taylor-Mill was his intellectual partner and wife, contributing significantly to his feminist ideas.

Question 2

What are J.S. Mill’s notable works?

Answer 2

Utilitarianism, On Liberty, The Subjection of Women, and Principles of Representative Government.

Question 3

What is utilitarianism?

Answer 3

A philosophy where actions are judged by their consequences, aiming for the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Question 4

How does Mill’s utilitarianism differ from Bentham’s?

Answer 4

Mill introduces qualitative distinctions in pleasures, valuing intellectual pleasures (e.g., poetry) over physical ones (e.g., games), unlike Bentham, who viewed all pleasures as equal.

Question 5

What is the liberty or harm principle in Mill’s philosophy?

Answer 5

Individuals can exercise freedom unless it harms others; self-protection justifies limiting freedom.

Question 6

What are Mill’s restrictions on freedom of speech?

Answer 6

Speech is restricted only in cases of incitement to violence or fraud, ensuring harm prevention.

Question 7

What is Mill’s concept of harm?

Answer 7

Harm occurs when someone’s interests, recognized as legal or moral rights, are infringed upon.

Question 8

Why does Mill argue that freedom leads to progress?

Answer 8

Freedom fosters diverse opinions, individual development, and societal experiments, driving personal and social advancement.

Question 9

What is Mill’s view on freedom of speech and truth?

Answer 9

Even false beliefs should not be censored, as their contestation helps truth remain dynamic and alive, avoiding ‘dead dogma.’

Question 10

What is Mill’s thesis in The Subjection of Women?

Answer 10

The legal subordination of women is unjust and a barrier to societal improvement; equality must replace subordination.

Question 11

What critique is directed at Mill’s feminist approach?

Answer 11

Critics argue Mill expects women to conform to male standards, overlooking systemic barriers rooted in gendered oppression.

Question 12

What role does Mill assign to women?

Answer 12

He acknowledges traditional roles, like managing households, but advocates for women’s freedom to choose other paths.

Question 13

What is Bentham’s hedonistic calculus?

Answer 13

A framework for evaluating actions based on dimensions like intensity, duration, certainty, and proximity of pleasure or pain.

Question 14

What is the tyranny of the majority in Mill’s theory?

Answer 14

The risk that majority opinions suppress individual freedoms and diversity of thought, leading to societal stagnation.

Question 15

How does Mill justify despotism in certain cases?

Answer 15

Despotism is deemed acceptable for ‘barbarian’ societies if aimed at their improvement, reflecting Eurocentric biases.

Question 16

What is Mill’s stance on voting rights?

Answer 16

Advocates for a weighted voting system, balancing majority rule with intellectual competence, while restricting ‘unfit’ groups.

Question 17

How do Mill and Taylor-Mill influence feminist thought?

Answer 17

They argue for women’s legal and political equality, challenging Victorian norms that confined women to domestic roles.

Question 18

How does Bentham’s rejection of qualitative distinctions contrast with Mill’s higher pleasures?

Answer 18

Bentham argued that all pleasures are equal, while Mill believed intellectual pleasures were superior to base pleasures.

Question 19

What examples does Mill provide to illustrate freedom fostering progress?

Answer 19

Mill cites examples like diverse lifestyles and debates fostering creativity and innovation, contributing to progress.

Question 20

What are additional feminist critiques of Mill’s work?

Answer 20

Mill’s feminist approach is critiqued for framing equality in terms of conforming to male-dominated societal norms.

Question 21

How does Mill’s justification of despotism reflect colonialist biases?

Answer 21

Mill’s justification of despotism for ‘barbarians’ reflects colonialist views that ‘civilized’ societies must guide ‘uncivilized’ ones.

Question 22

What are nuanced aspects of Mill’s views on freedom of speech?

Answer 22

Mill balances freedom of speech with harm prevention but allows for false ideas to stimulate truth.

Question 23

What were Harriet Taylor-Mill’s specific contributions to Mill’s work?

Answer 23

She contributed significantly to Mill’s views on women’s equality and co-authored essays on suffrage and feminism.

Question 24

How can Mill’s harm principle be applied to contemporary issues?

Answer 24

Mill’s harm principle applies to debates on hate speech, environmental policies, and personal autonomy in health choices.

Question 25

What are broader criticisms of utilitarianism in Mill’s philosophy?

Answer 25

Criticisms include prioritizing collective happiness over individual rights and difficulties in measuring qualitative pleasures.