Abstract The arguments about the female equality of JohnStuartMill stimulated controversy in his period before subsiding to an agreement that the theoretical statement about female equality contained elements for practical programme. The purpose of this essay is to show that Mill's argument about equality is achievable though some aspects of it are still debated in all societies.
Abstract This paper examines the political theories of JohnStuartMill, specifically as they relate to his conceptions of the appropriate limitations on a nation-state's legitimate use of its power. In the course of this discussion, the writer raises Mill's points about the principle of harm and the principle of liberty and shows how these two principles are fundamental to our understanding of the extent to which states should be allowed to act.
From the Paper "Born in 1806 in London, most of John Stuart Mill's political and philosophical work was composed in the early part of the nineteenth century. He is currently recognized as one of the primary voices of both the classical liberal and the utilitarian philosophical positions (Johnson, 1999). This dual position underscores one of the primary tensions in Mill's works, which spread across a wide range of topics including politics, economics, religion and even nutrition. However, for the purpose of this study, I will be focusing primarily on only one of Mill's texts that relates to political science, "On Liberty.""
Abstract This paper compares the ideas and theories of JohnStuartMill and Immanuel Kant concerning morals. The paper compares their views on moral concerns necessary for ethical decisions and moral perceptions of higher and lower pleasures. The paper also examines and discusses differences between the two philosophers regarding moral judgment and decisions and contends that Kant's moral system is more complete.
From the Paper "Any truly complete ethics must address a number of concerns. These concerns include moral perception, moral choice, moral judgment, moral justification and moral systems. While a number of theorists have addressed these aspects of ethics, the ideas and theories advanced by Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill seem to offer the most complete and affirmative approaches to these concerns. For any ethics to exist there must be some type of moral perception present in individuals and in entire societies. John Stuart Mill found that almost all..."
Tags: morals, philosophy, JohnStuartMill, Immanuel Kant
Abstract This paper discusses how JohnStuartMill struggled with the same moral, philosophical, political, and social issues that have troubled previous theorists in many fields of study for thousands of years. His primary contributions to the debates about these issues were his books, 'Utilitarianism' and 'On Liberty', in which he formulated and defended principles which are still being debated today. His harm principle was a primary element of an attempt to provide a definitive moral framework for individuals and society, but it has implications that many people believe raises more questions than it resolves.
Abstract This paper argues that, as a political commentary, Mill's ?The Subjection of Women? is not a product of his time, but rather a critique of the restrictions on women's political and civic rights; therefore, JohnStuartMill holds the distinction of being the first male philosopher to argue publicly in favor of women's rights. The author points out that the book is an impassioned argument for the recognition of women's personal, legal, and political rights, including the right to work outside the home, the right to higher education, and the right to equal rights in the institution of marriage. The paper relates that, as a utilitarian, Mill believes that prohibiting the potential contributions from half the members of society went against the general good.
Table of Contents
Arguments of ?The Subjection of Women?
Social and Philosophical Context
Conclusion
From the Paper "Most of the social theorists of the time, such as Edmund Burke and even Mill's own father James Mill argued that personal relationships, such as those between husbands and wives, were timeless and should be seen as "natural." In response to John Stuart's criticism, Burke harked back to the abstract reason of older philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Jeremy Bentham. Bentham, in particular, was the father of utilitarianism, which John Stuart had adopted as his own personal philosophy."
Tags: relationships, utilitarianism, political, restrictions, first
Abstract This paper explains that JohnStuartMill is often classified as a Liberal Feminist because of his "Subjection of Women", which explores the concepts of Liberal and Radical Feminism in relation to Mill's theory of utilitarian and his ideas about women's place in economic and societal terms. The author points out that Liberal Feminism is a branch of feminism, which uses the language of liberty, rights and legal equality, as opposed to the radical branch of second wave feminism who believed that the main tenet of feminism was the oppression of women by men. The paper states that most of Mill's writings are concerned with middle- or upper-class married women and he favours the traditional division of labour within the family; this incongruous coupling of patriarchy and capitalism by JohnStuartMill and the Liberal Feminists is criticised.
From the Paper "John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was raised as a Utilitarian, influenced by Jeremy Bentham and his father, James Mill. His writings include On Liberty (1859), Utilitarianism (1863) and the Subjection of Women (1869), as well as many articles in various periodicals including the Utilitarian journal the Westminster Review. In 1851, after a long relationship he married Harriet Taylor, to whom he was apparently devoted, although her contribution to his work is disputed. To this Okin states: 'the difficult circumstances of their relationship must have increased the strength of his convictions, and of his determination to do what he could to have women's many disabilities remedied.' On her death in 1858 Mill was allegedly devastated: 'His despondency was frightful.'" His Utilitarian beginnings were at odds with his later liberal
Abstract The writer of this paper examines JohnStuartMill's philosophical views of individuals in society as well as the limits of authority in society and asks if these perceptions still exist today. This paper also explores the philosopher's 21 point dissertation on the subject as detailed in chapter IV of Mill's "On Liberty."
From the Paper "Therefore in analyzing the strengths of Mill's statement he properly points out there is no codified law or regulations governing the individual's responsibilities to the society in which one lives there is none the less an implied obligation to the individual to behave in a manner that is acceptable to that society. Failure to do so, he states, also gives the society the right to censer in a manner acceptable to the society as a whole. In other words there are norms of behavior members of every group should recognize and live by in order to prevent prejudicial behavior toward any member of group of members."
Describes a policy, adopted by Stanford Students, which restricts certain types of free speech and examines whether this policy conflicts with the first amendment or is a just application of JohnStuartMill's harm principle.
650 words (approx. 2.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 26.95
Abstract Stanford Students adopted a policy that made personally vilifying expressions an offense subject to penalties. The policy described outlawed expressions as "…words or non-verbal symbols…commonly understood to convey direct and visceral hatred or contempt for human beings on the basis of their sex, race, color, handicap, religion, or national or ethnic origin. This paper examines whether this policy should be ruled a violation of the First Amendment's right to free speech or whether it is a legitimate application of JohnStuartMill's harm principle.
Abstract An examination of individual liberty in JohnStuartMill's controversial essay, "On Liberty". In investigating this topic, the author looks at Mill's argument, the context of individual liberty in human history, the retention of elements in JohnStuartMill's philosophy and their practicability and democratic tyranny against individual liberty.
From the Paper "One of the prime spokesperson of liberalism in the 19th century, John Stuart Mill was a supporter of Utilitarianism in moral principles. He was specifically of the view that every individual in a society should perform his role in such a manner that he progresses maximum happiness for the majority of the people. Despite his belief in collective welfare, Stuart Mill was a strong advocate of individual liberty and rights. However, the simultaneous elements of individual liberty as well as the social well being in Stuart Mill's philosophy are considered controversial by most. Apart from this, he also promoted rights and liberty for women.
On Liberty was the most controversial essay of John Stuart Mill's works, stimulating much vehement manifestation of consent and censure. The composition was incited by the conversation between Mill and Harriet Taylor, his wife, in their letters on the subject that they lived in a society that was moving towards dearth of intrepid and gallant individuals."
Abstract This paper is on "JohnStuartMill: on liberty". It includes what did JohnStuartMill saw on democracy, the serious threats to the development of individualism, what aspects of democracy worried him and were his fears justified.
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the ideas on ethical theory of two great thinkers, JohnStuartMill and Thomas Hobbes. The paper discusses Mill's concept of utilitarianism and Hobbes' views on the social contract and the two states of human existence, i.e. nature vs. society. The paper defines Mill's principle of utility as the most happiness (pleasure) and the least amount of pain for the majority of people involved. Humans are motivated by their pursuit of pleasure. The paper states that Mill believes human beings and beasts are separated by their pleasure capacity, whereas Hobbes would argue that it is the state of society that makes humans different from the beasts. In conclusion, the paper maintains that both men, though different in almost every way, present profound ideas that cannot and are not ignored by people around the world whether they are living as beasts with every pleasure fulfilled or as civilized being struggling to relieve themselves of pain.
From the Paper "The social contract theory is defined and redefined by several philosophers. One of the more noted of these is Thomas Hobbes. In his Leviathan, published in 1651, Hobbes attempts to clearly define the two states of human beings, nature and society, as well as prove that the social contract is necessary in order to allay the chaos created by the natural state of men. According to Hobbes, humans would live in a cut throat existence if it were not for the social contract. He believes that man needs a ruler, a monarchy, in order to control their natural, beast like, behaviors."
Tags: ethics philosophy Leviathan utilitarianism nature society, Social Contract, pleasure happiness pursuit pain beast human civilized civilization
Abstract JohnStuartMill (1806-1873) was a leading British philosopher and economist who left a great impact on the 19th century Western thought in areas as diverse as philosophy, economics, political science, logic and ethics. Mill has left behind several writings on society, politics, ethics, logic, and religion besides economics. This paper includes brief biographical information about Mills and examines his contribution to economics as well as his economic theories.
From the Paper "John Stuart Mills, the eldest son of James Mills (a follower of the Utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham), was born in London on May 20, 1806. He was given an unusually early and rigorous education by his father and deliberately shielded from boys of a similar age, intended to instill intellectual discipline in the young boy. His education began with the study of Greek at the age of three and by time he was 17 Mill had completed advanced courses in Greek literature, chemistry, botany, psychology, and law. ("John Stuart Mill"-Encarta) He grew up a convinced Utilitarian like his father but suffered a nervous breakdown at the young age of 20 that convinced him that there was more to life than the philosophy of Bentham. It was then that he started to study the works of Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Goethe and proceeded to theories that develop that emphasized a scientific approach to understanding social, political and economic change while incorporating the insights of poets and other imaginative writers. (Mautner) His intellectual relationship with Mrs. Taylor (who he late married after the death of her husband) also helped him to climb out of his mental despair that had, in part, been brought about by his overly strict education and severe physical and mental strain."
Abstract This paper focuses on JohnStuartMill's opening chapter in "On Liberty" and some of the limits of utilitarianism that Mill describes in laying out the format of the book. "On Liberty" appeared in 1859 and is perhaps the most often read of Mill's philosophy, holding much to which he described elsewhere.
Abstract This paper discusses JohnStuartMill, well known for his views on the way that social and political power can limit and obstruct individual freedom. The paper explains that Mill also opposed the understanding of freedom without any social constraints. The paper states that Mill's conception of freedom strongly emphasized the concept of the autonomy of the individual and the necessary limitations on the control of the power of the State, as well as the extent to which the State could intrude on the lives of the individual.
From the Paper "Mills' conception of freedom emphasizes the necessity of autonomy. This includes the widest possible range of choices and opportunities for self- development for the individual "in relation to the full range of forms of power that situate people. In this view, freedom and power are linked in a continuing interplay, not a simply oppositional relationship". (Baum 187) Therefore, the central idea of individual autonomy for Mill is dependent of the context that the individual is situated in relation to the various power structures and relationships. These could include categories of power relationships such as educational, political, economic, gender, and family relations. (ibid) However, in the cultivation of individual autonomy and the 'sovereignty' of the individual in 'self-regarding' matters', (ibid) Mill also emphasizes that freedom is not constituted solely in terms of the actions of the individual but must be envisaged as a concept that is interlinked with power structure and democratic self-government."
Abstract This paper reviews JohnStuartMill's "Utilitarianism". The paper examines the social principle Mills wants to create. It also analyzes and critiques the main tenants of Mills' basic argument.
From the Paper "This research discusses utilitarianism, the philosophy of John Stuart Mill. It will present the main issues of Mill's argument and show what position he takes. It will also present his argument in support of his position. Then Mill's argument will be analyzed..."
Tags:John, Stuart, Mill, Utilitarianism, Virtue, Happiness, Good
