John Stuart Mill

beliefs. Like John Stuart Mill, I believe that by maximizing personal liberty of speech we will create a greater society because we will all be free to discuss our views and hear the ones against us to further develop ideas and information. There is not a definite opinion. Truths change on a daily basis because new arguments can be found at any given time. In his book Mill says, “To refuse a hearing to an opinion.. is to assume their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty.” (Mill…

If something makes you happy, does that mean that it is the best action? In the theory of Utilitarianism, there are two "creators," Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. They put forth the idea that actions are right only if they increase happiness, and are wrong if they result in unhappiness. In this essay, we explore the theory of Utility, and then understand the theory through Plato’s two challenges, whether an action is good beyond what a group or individual in authority claims, as well as if…

focus on his own personal happiness, or should one make the happiness of others his priority? What if the individual who endeavors never-ending euphoria is indeed the most broken inside? This concept was the chief issue in the autobiography of John Stuart Mill, a 19th century English philosopher. Mill's reasoning of just 'going with the flow' by concentrating less about personal happiness is unmistakably the most supreme path to increased satisfaction in anyone's lifestyle. Mill's…

Mill aims to show that happiness is the only thing that humans ever desire. He acknowledges, though, that humans desire virtue just as authentically as we desire happiness, although less frequently than we desire happiness. This appears to reveal a problem with the kind of utilitarianism that Mill is presenting. If humans desire virtue and if virtue is something other than happiness, then happiness is not the sole object of human desire. Mill attempts to solve this problem by considering virtue…

John Stuart Mill is considered one of the most notorious philosopher in the late nineteen century who on morality grounds defended the idea of utilitarianism. Mill constructively argued that being cultured is what was the soul to happiness and if one' was to keep happiness on the highest level of morality then it would lead to higher goals and ambitions. Mill's explained the relation between how pigs and humans evaluated behavior in a philosophical manner, he was content with the idea that a…

For John Stewart Mill, the resolution of the case study considers the outcome of the moral decision and involves the weight of pain against pleasure, calculus, and a consideration to higher, elite pleasures. Mill’s utilitarianism is supported and influenced by Jeremy Bentham’s philosophy, both of which call for the weighing of the pleasures of an action against the pains of those actions. Furthermore, in making a moral decision, one should use calculus by simply taking a vote of the polis and…

always choosing the action that benefits everyone would ultimately hold people back. I will discuss both sides to utilitarianism, how it can be beneficially and harmful. In doing so, I will explore John Stuart Mill’s side as he supports utilitarianism, as well as the opposition. First off, John Stuart Mill is one of the many supports of utilitarianism as he uses the idea of happiness,…

The Harm Principle: And its Use in Society On Liberty by John Stuart Mill questions the power that can be placed by society over an individual (Bailey and Martin, 200). Mill identifies two different types of actions; self regarding actions, and other regarding actions. When a person is involved in self regarding actions (actions that only affect the individual doing the action), they should not be bothered by the government. Although, when an individual is involved in other regarding actions…

The harm principle, as espoused by John Stuart Mill in his 1859 text On Liberty, is perhaps one of the most important components of liberal political theory. He argues that ‘the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection.’ Certainly, the harm principle lies right at the heart of liberal individualism . This essay will analyse Mill’s conception of the harm principle and consider its…

Mill believed the history of mankind is the struggle between liberty and authority. To Mill, there is continuous tension between two values in politics: liberty: individual freedom and Authority: the need for constraint. The struggle b/w the relations is carried on by the tyranny of Gov't. He breaks down authority into two parts: firstly, necessary rights belonging to citizens. Secondly, the "establishment of constitutional checks by which the consent of the society, or of a governing body,…