John Stuart Mills Argument - 1034 Words

This paper will discuss John Stuart Mill’s argument about the freedom of expression of opinion, and how Mill justified that freedom. I will also discuss how strong his argument was and whether or not I agree with it. John Stuart Mill was a political economist, civil servant, and most importantly an English philosopher from the nineteenth century. Throughout his writing, John Stuart Mill touched on the issues of liberty, freedom and other human rights. In his philosophical work, On Liberty, he discussed the relationship between authority and liberty, as well as the importance of individuality in society. In chapter two of On Liberty, Mill examined the freedom of expression in more detail, examining arguments for and against his own. First, Mill pointed out that everyone has their own judgments and no one has the right to decide an issue for all people. The liberty of an opinion is often up for debate because we are all confident in our own rightness, even though that confidence is not justified. â€Å"They have no authority to decide the question for all mankind, and exclude every other person from the means of judging. To refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.† (Mill, II.3). Mill pointed out that silencing a potentially true idea hurts society because it is shielded from that possible truth. You never canShow MoreRelatedUtilitarian Perspective On Feminism1563 Words   |  7 PagesRights John Stuart Mill’s discussion of the subjection of women leaves many scholars regarding him as one of the first feminist philosophers of his time. His work analyzes and questions the everyday perspectives on women’s rights, and challenges common societal notions. Many philosophers today look to his work for a variety of reasons; some applaud his work for being ahead of it’s time. Others dismiss it, claiming that it’s flawed due to personal attachment. Both sides however regard Mill’s writingRead MoreA Research Paper on the Life of John Stuart Mill876 Words   |  3 PagesThis research paper focuses on the life of John Stuart Mill and how it affected his economic theories. John Stuart Mill’s grew up unlike most, raised since his adolescence to be the face of utilitarianism. This upbringing may have had some effect on his theories and overall beliefs in his economic policies. Born in 1806, John Stuart Mill was the son of economist James Mill. From a very early age his father instilled a discipline of studies. When he was very young he began to read Latin, and comprehendRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill : Views On Objectivism Essay1233 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Stuart Mill: Views on Objectivism John Stuart Mill defends objectivism about intrinsic value within utilitarianism. A theory of intrinsic value indicates what things are valuable for their own sake. Within the Theories of Intrinsic Value, we think of Objectivism and Hedonism. Objectivism is best described as: Certain ways of life are intrinsically valuable, even if they hold less pleasure than others. Some things are valuable regardless of, and independently of, the pleasure they may produceRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Argument That Happiness Is The Only Intrinsic Good1354 Words   |  6 PagesIn this essay I am going to write about John Stuart Mill’s argument that happiness is the only intrinsic good. Mill’s proof focuses on defending utilitarianism, one of the most prominent works in moral philosophy and most prominent form of consequentialism as proposed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Mill defines the theory and provides his responses to common misconceptions people have surrounding it. Ut ility, the Greatest Happiness Principle, states that actions are right in that they generallyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Text On Liberty By John Stuart Mill1642 Words   |  7 PagesRegarding Mill’s argument â€Å"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind,† the justification for this statement is to present his ideology on the subject of free speech. According the text ‘On Liberty’ by John Stuart Mill, his position with respect to free speech is that even one person had a specific opinion, mankind is not given grounds to silence him. Mill’s argumentRead MoreAbortion (Marry Anne Warren â€Å"on the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion, † and â€Å"Utilitarianism.†)1611 Words   |  7 Pagesrestricting abortion. The philosopher known as Mary Anne Warren gives an example of a possible view on abortion. In her case â€Å"On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion,† she argues for the idea that abortion is morally acceptable. Mary Anne Warren’s argument also coincides with the Utilitarian idea of happiness. Mary Anne Warren is an American author and philosophy professor. She is most acknowledged for her writings dealing with abortion, and her essays are frequently used as readings in academicRead More`` On Liberty `` By John Stuart Mill1458 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Stuart Mill was an English philosopher and a progressive in British politics during the 17th century. He lived during a time of political transformation in England caused by the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution brought social mobility to the middle and lower class, along with more political participation. With this newfound freedom, the people of England felt their liberties were being diminished because they had the ability to accomplish all the more but in some cases, couldRead MoreAnal ysis Of The Negro Question And John Stuart Mill1426 Words   |  6 PagesOccasional Discourse On The Negro Question and John Stuart Mill’s responding essay, The Negro Question, primarily deal with the implications of a liberated black population in the West Indies. However, the texture of their respective arguments lends itself to rhetoric of nature and agriculture. Carlyle and Mill could not see humanity’s relationship with nature more differently. Due to different understandings of humanity’s relationship with nature, Carlyle and Mill’s evaluation of agricultural productivityRead MoreAristotle Vs. Mill : The Debate On Happiness1750 Words   |  7 Pagesdefinition of happiness is one of the most debated questions among many different philosophers and people through out the ages. Aristotle and John Stuart Mill are two philosophers who had similar ideas regarding the definition of happiness, but argued different theories on what constitutes happiness and what is required to be truly happy. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics both agree that happiness is essential to a good life but differ on what an individuals happinessRead MoreThe Mill By John Stuart Mill1537 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Stuart Mill was a famous philosopher and historian. Jeremy Bentham who advocated for utilitarianism just like Mill influenced much of Mill’s works. Mill’s works were also greatly influenced by Jeremy Bentham’s brother, Samuel and Mill’s father, James. Mill had many early works prior to his writings on utilitarianism. Mill discusses how to determine right and wrong, but this seems to be an ongoing conflict. Mill believes that in order to prove goodness you must have ethical morals lined up in