On Liberty

and independence. “Nozick argued that respect for individual rights is the key standard for assessing state action and, hence, that the only legitimate state is a minimal state that restricts its activities to the protection of the rights of life, liberty, property, and contract” (Mack, Eric, Summer 2015 Edition). On the question of tar sands expansion, a libertarian would argue that we can prevent the expansion of the tar sands if the costs of preventing it are less than the benefits of doing…

only way he believed that men were able to be told what to do is if they, by consent, joined another group for community reasons which brought safety and a peaceful living (Locke, pg. 52). The basic rights that Locke believed in were the right of liberty, which meant that you were able to do as you pleased without the interruption of outside sources. In this you had the right to exchange objects, ideas, and beliefs with others, without the fear of being incarcerated or killed. Life was another…

power limiting the freedom of those who are subordinate to them in their “interest”. His specific focus on paternalism followed the model of Mill’s Harm Principle. Mill’s Harm Principle states that the only reason that one is able to limit another’s liberty of action is if it is for self-protection. The harm principle also states that the only way power can be exercised over another person is to prevent harm to others. Although his work pertained to Mill’s Harm Principle, throughout he accepted…

liberalism, specifically rights respecting, constitutional and representative government. Due to all these reasons, John Locke has been dubbed the father of liberal democracy and has managed to achieve a sort of equilibrium between authority and liberty. His concept of the social contract differs from other social contract theorists whose influence on liberal democracy is evident, yet not exceeding Locke’s. One of these theorists is Locke’s critic: Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Both of these men are…

O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegeta l , 546 U.S. 418 (2006). The government argued for the restriction of hoasca under the supposition that the ban of the drug would “…[protect] the health and safety of the Uniao Do Vegetal members, [and prevent] the diversion of hoasca from the church to recreational users…” (court case). According to Mill such an argument is based on restricting behavior prior to action. There is no certainty that the Uniao Do Vegetal, nor any individual in…

questions rise about bans and restrictions. When harm becomes involved, the issue of hate speech is often debated. The harm principle is the only purpose for with it is morally legitimate for government or public opinion to interfere with anyone’s liberty of action (including speech) is to prevent harm to others. Hate speech can lead to direct harm; it is important to restrict it. Although freedom of speech is important to the way our society is run, limitations need to be set. Without…

can be divided into three separate fractions. those being classic liberals, who believe in minimal state intervention and its function is limited to the maintenance of domestic order and personal security. The neo liberals, believing that personal liberty is maximised by limiting government interference in the operation of free markets. Finally modern liberals, who accept the state should help people to help themselves, but not directly by the state. due to these divisions there is often debate…

The libertarian argument is deontological, which means that there is a duty to help others. In the Libertarianist case it is the duty to protect the right to private property, the rights to live, to freedom and or liberty. The only rule that goes with the rights and that stops a libertarionist from taking them to an extreme is the obligation to respect the same rights of others and he may not conflict with them pursuing his own. Libertarianism (Latin: liber, “free” and in French:…

Liberalism, race, and contract are all extremely broad terms that encompass a variety of implications and meanings. The definition of each of these terms has evolved throughout history and continues to evolve today. Though these terms all have separate definitions, they have common roots. Liberalism, race, and contract are all elements of the political, social, and racial aspects of America. Liberalism is the base upon which race and contract are built. Liberalism is a political ideology that…

Liberalism is a complex ideology that supports individual freedom, the right to use reason and rationality to pursue independent interests and inherent dignity and worth of every person (58). The broad ideology encompasses a number of smaller sub-categories that all support the greater ideal of individualism and representative government, but in unique and specific ways. Liberalism is identified by the text to have three main ideological branches that work towards the same greater goal of…