John Stuart Mill - Classical Theory - Lecture Notes, Study notes of Culture & Society

Download John Stuart Mill - Classical Theory - Lecture Notes and more Study notes Culture & Society in PDF only on Docsity! Mill argues that power of government should interfere with individual liberty only to prevent harm to others: "your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose." - self abuse is okay - does not apply to minors or barbarians (backward societies) Utility is ultimate appeal on ethical grounds - maximize pleasure - minimize pain - felicitus calculus: greatest good for greatest number - permanent interests of man as a progressive being—is this collective interest? Region of human liberty - consciousness and conscience—thought and feeling & expression/publication of opinions - tastes and lifestyles - combination and collective action Necessity of freedom of expression and need to exchange dissenting opinions - to find truth - to grasp (living) truth - for finding whole truth Necessity of freedom of individual practices - possible improvement - foster energetic, critical, thoughtful pursuits - danger of persecution Problem of society's rights versus individual liberty - extent ot social harm defined: competition, pandering, fathering - extent of social obligation: fraternal and contractual John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) British philosopher, utilitarian, raised by father to be ideal Benthamite utilitarian man; serious issues; kept man (married Harriet Taylor, friend/patron's widow), early liberal feminist writer. Docsity.com