·
To understand the
Political thought of J.S. Mill
·
To know about
Critique of Utilitarianism, Liberty,
John Stuart Mill was born on 20 May 1806 in
Bentonville, a northern suburb of London to Harriet Barrow and James Mill,
a Scotsman who was educated at Edinburgh University. The
development of John Stuart Mill as a social and political
thinker can be divided into three specific periods. The first period represents
the training that he received from his childhood under both his father, James Mill and
Jeremy Bentham. The second period marks his recovery from his
mental crisis which started in his early twenties, with the termination and
dissolution of the philosophic radicals as a distinct party towards the end of
the 1830s. It was at this period that Mill refashioned his thinking under
a variety of intellectual and emotional influences. The final period which
extends to over thirty years of his career, marks the time in which he
published his major works that included, A System of Logic, Principles of
Political Economy, On Liberty and Considerations on Representative Government.
On Liberty (1859) brought Mill enduring fame, and
predicted that among all his works, this was destined to survive the longest
and is has. The transformation of society from aristocratic to democratic forms
of organization brought with it both advantages and disadvantages. It meant rule
by social masses that would be more powerful, uniform and omnipresent than the
rulers of previous eras. Mill held that, the dominance of the
majority carried with it more risks that from a monarch that had the capacity
to place restrictions over the freedoms of individuals, which could be
legislatively enacted. Informal mechanisms of social pressure and expectation
could in democratic societies could be all-controlling. Mill expressed that such
powers could have the capacity of stifling conformism in thought, character and
action. In was in this context that On Liberty was written. The aims of this
work is written in the first chapter which asserts one simple principle. This
principle states 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” (Liberty: XVIII 223). Thus, the practical
philosophy of this argument by Mill is primarily utilitarian.
In his ‘On Liberty’ Mill puts forward
different strategies to argue for freedom of thought and discussion, character,
and action. Freedom of thought and discussion are discussed in chapter two of
On Liberty, where arguments against the control of expression are explained.
Chapter three of On Liberty, puts forward argument in favour of freedom of
Character (individuality) where such arguments are two pronged. On the one hand
Mill
argues for freedom of space for individuals which individuals should have to
develop their own character while on the other, he maintains that it is best
for society too. “Human nature is not a machine to be built after a model, and
set to do exactly the work prescribed for it, but a tree, which requires to
grow and develop itself on all sides, according to the tendency of the inward
forces which make it a living thing” (Liberty, XVIII: 263). Mill
was of the opinion that mass society is self-repressive in nature which would
lead to the sapping of human energy and potential. The Victorian society he
claimed was governed by an ethos of propriety based on Christian self -denial
while in contrast Mill encourages the Greek model of self-development. It is
important for society to create conditions where individuals can develop their
own ways of living. This will enable variety and diversity of character and
culture which will become the engine of productive tension that will drive a
nation forward. Mill’s insistence throughout On Liberty, sought to preserve the
individual’s freedom against the possibility of legislative or state coercion
and also from the deceptive forms of social coercion.
In 1861 Mill’s Considerations on
Representative Government was published which contains his views on politics. Mill
was a convinced democrat, however, this work reveals his disappointment,
doubts, and difficulties about self- government. His view is paradoxical in
nature where he views that the majority ought to rule but minority rule was
probably right. He argued that majority has power but the minority has wisdom. Mill
in this work expresses the dangers posed by the tyranny of the majority
undertook to provide the criterion for good government. He concluded that
ideally the best form of government was one that was representative where the
sovereignty is vested in the entire aggregate of the community, every citizen
who not only have the right to at least occasionally be called on to take an
actual part in the government by the personal discharge of certain public
function, local or general.
John Stuart Mill occupies a very important place
in the history of political thought which was widespread in the nineteenth
century. His works emphasized the importance of human nature for the proper
study and understanding of the state. He developed his own philosophy of
franchise. Mill states that casting one’s vote is as necessary for the
political animal as is the air that he or she breathes. No other political
thinker has been as emphatic as Mill in the conception of voting.
The influences that utilitarianism had on Mill also were important in the
formulation of his ideas on the principle of economy and that of representative
government where the freedom of the individual to develop his capabilities
should be never interfered with. On each of these subjects Mill was often
provocative that no student of the discipline can afford to ignore.
Related Topics
Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant
Copyright © 2018-2024 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.