Mill’s, On Liberty
Type one: focused summary
John Stuart Mill was a philosopher in the 19th century who focused on utilitarianism and liberalism. In his novel, On Liberty, Mill introduced the argument of liberty versus authority in chapter one. He goes to explain the aim of patriots was to set limits to the power a ruler held and this limitation was defined as liberty. Mill argues that the interests of rulers should also be the interest and the will of a nation, and some of the interests are turned into rules and laws. As Mill states, no country in any time has ever decided on rules the same, which is an interesting point to have students analyzing how different countries have different government structures and laws and how they may interfere with one another.
However it is important to note that rules are often influenced by customs, and often feelings and beliefs are put before reason. Therefore, the likings and dislikings of a society are crucial in that societies rules. Mill further analyzes the reason individuals allow themselves to be powered over and comes to the conclusion that it is to prevent harm to others. Here we see Mill’s principles of utility, and an overwhelming theme of his argument that utility is the ultimate appeal on all ethical questions.
In chapter four, Mill dives into the importance of helping one another reach their potentials. Mill believes humans should encourage one another to help each other further succeed in life and become wiser, while avoiding putting your own interests in the way. This leads into his ethical idea that individuals also have a duty to oneself to show self-respect and avoid envy, egoism, and malice.
In chapter 5, Mill begins to dissect the intersection of two principles and their implications. He gives the example of the an individual having a right to gamble, but also the question of whether that allows one to own a gambling house. He attempts to explain different sides and that one argument for gambling is that it is solved through individual choice. However, on the other hand, statutes respecting unlawful games are utterly indefensible, therefore, gambling houses should not be permitted.
This reading is an excellent way to being thinking about how laws may intersect one another and many often cause controversy. It introduces the role of authority and liberty and gives a nice foundation to build off for this class and get into further implications that arise from law and society.
