Lecture 4: Liberty and Democracy: J. S. Mill The Foundations of Modern Social and Political Thought

Bentham, J. S. Mill and the Liberal Tradition

The Problem ‘The disposition of mankind, whether as rulers or as fellow citizens, to impose their own opinions and inclinations as a rule of conduct on others … is hardly ever kept under restraint by anything but want of power; and as the power is not declining, but growing, unless a strong barrier of moral conviction can be raised against the mischief, we must expect, in the present circumstances to see it increase.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 17.

Mill’s Complex Solutions Three Texts, Three Answers? The Right End of Government: Utility The Restriction on Government: Liberty The Design of Government: Democracy

‘One Very Simple Principle’ … the only purpose for which power can rightfully be exercised over any member of a civilized community is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do something … because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise or even right.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 13.

On Social Progress ‘The beliefs which we have most warrant for, have no safeguard to rest on, but a standing invitation to the whole world to prove them unfounded … If the lists are kept open, we may hope that if there be a better truth, it will be found when the human mind is capable of receiving it.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 24.

Mill Beyond Utilitarianism ‘If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be in silencing mankind.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 20.

On Individual Difference ‘A man cannot get a coat or a pair of boots to fit him, unless they are either made to measure, or he has a whole warehouse to choose from; and is it easier to fit him with a life than with a coat, or are human beings more like one another in their whole physical and spiritual conformation than in the shape of their feet?’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 68.

On Individual Progress ‘Human nature is not a machine to be built after a model, and set to do exactly the work prescribed for it, but a tree, which requires to grow and develop itself on all sides, according to the tendency of the inward forces which make it a living thing.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 60.

The Scope of Social Action ‘As soon as any part of a person’s conduct affects prejudicially the interests of others, society has jurisdiction over it, and the question whether the general welfare will or will not be promoted by interfering with it becomes open to question.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 76.

Interference Beyond the Harm Principle ‘His voluntary choice is evidence that what he so chooses is desirable.. To him.. But by selling himself as a slave, he abdicates his liberty; he forgoes any future use of it beyond that single act. He therefore defeats, in his own case, the very purpose which is the justification of allowing him to dispose of himself … The principle of freedom cannot require that he should be free not to be free. It is not freedom, to be allowed to alienate his freedom.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 103.

Liberty, the State, and Progress ‘ … a State which dwarfs men, in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands even for beneficial purposes - will find that with small men no great thing can really be accomplished; and that the perfection of machinery to which it has sacrificed everything, will in the end avail it nothing, for want of the vital power which, in order that the machine might work more smoothly, it has preferred to banish.’ J. S. Mill, On Liberty, 115.

The Goal of Government ‘The first element of good government … [is] the virtue and intelligence of the human beings composing the community, the most important point of excellence which any form of government can possess is to promote the virtue and intelligence of the people themselves … the degree in which it tends to increase the sum of good qualities in the governed, collectively and individually.’ Mill, Considerations, 227.

The Ideal Form of Government ‘…to judge of the merits of government, an ideal must be constructed of the form of government most eligible in itself, that is, which, if the necessary conditions existed for giving effect to its beneficial tendencies, would, more than all others, favour and promote not some one improvement, but all forms and degrees of it.’ Mill, Considerations, 236.

Government and the Development of Personality ‘… any education which aims at making human beings other than machines, in the long run will make them claim to have control over their own actions.’ Mill, Considerations, 243.

Democracy and Protection ‘The … proposition that each is the only safeguard of his own rights and interests is one of those elementary maxims of prudence … in the absence of its natural defenders, the interest of the excluded is always in danger of being overlooked; and, when looked at, is seen with very different eyes from those of the persons whom it directly concerns.’ Mill, Considerations, 246.

Democracy and Education in Individuality ‘ … the passive type of character is favoured by the government of one or a few, and the active self-helping type by that of the Many … Endeavour is even more effectually constrained by the certainty of its impotence, than by any positive discouragement. Between subjection to the will of others, and the virtues of self-help and self-government, there is a natural incompatibility.’ Mill, Considerations, 253.

Mill On Liberty: A Critique From Individuality to Individualism The Limits of Protection: State Action and Freedom