Political Essay
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MillMay20.pptOutline of today’s lecture
- John Stuart Mill: context
- On Liberty: the new face of an old problem
- Mill’s remedy
- Implications of harm principle
- Why not try to stifle other opinions?
- Why is liberty important?
- Rationale: consequentialist v. deontological
- The consequentialist Mill
- How do we distinguish between self- and other-regarding behaviour?
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John Stuart Mill: context
19th century Europe, Industrial Revolution
employing resources of Scientific revolution and modernity to vastly increase prosperity and control over natural environment
The new “D” word: Democracy. Political participation not just for the minority, but for all!
Fierce political struggles: in 1832, 1/8 of adult males had the vote; by 1867, it was 1/3; by 1884, it was 3/4; and by 1918, women get the vote.
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On Liberty: The new face of an old problem
The old problem: tyrannical governments
The new problem: majority wielding social/cultural rather than political power over minority--> conformity, mediocrity, sameness.
Paternalism, “tyranny of the majority”
p. 8: “leaves fewer means of escape…”
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Mill’s remedy
“self-regarding” vs. “other-regarding” behaviour
The harm principle: government should only legislate our behaviour in cases where it causes harm to others.
p. 12-13: “The sole end for which mankind are warranted..”
“Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign”
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Implications
Social and cultural laissez-faire: freedom of thoughts and expressions, tastes and pursuits, associations, p. 15
“Experiments in living,” p. 56
“Pursuing our own good in our own way,” p. 15
More expansive understanding of liberty
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Why should we not try to stifle other’s opinions?
The opinion which it is attempted to suppress by authority may possibly be true…all silencing is an assumption of infallibility”(pp. 19, 22, 23, 25)
Truth requires the friction of opposing, diverse opinions (pp. 52, 47)
Even if it is true, we need to be able to hold the opinion for good reason, rather than just blindly accept it (p. 52, 38, 39-40)
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Why is liberty important?
What is the rationale?
Utilitarian reasoning vs. deontological reasoning
What is the right way to make a moral decision?
- Utilitarianism (or consequentialism) asks: which moral choice brings about the best overall consequences in terms of the least pain and the most benefit for ALL those involved? Consequences are what matter: “The greatest good for the greatest number”
- Deontology asks: what is the principle by which we should make this decision? Universal principles are what matter.
- Utilitarianism (or Consequentialism): something is good for its consequences or results, for what it brings about, not inherently, not for its own sake. No moral rule is universally right or wrong.
- Deontology: stipulation, this is the right way, “just because,” moral claim on principle, for its own sake, everywhere, in every case, universally.
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