Principles of Political Economy. 12mo, $2.50.

The two suppositions are that the dissenting view might be right, or at least partly so, in which case the majority will have been deprived, by their suppression of that view, of the chance to correct their error; and that the dissenting view is wrong. Here it might seem there could be no ill effects in stifling error, but Mill correctly, in my view, recognizes that a true view that is in no need of defending itself against objections will eventually become a dead dogma, in which not only the grounds, but even the meaning itself of the true claim will be lost to its proponents.

John Stuart Mill: His Life and Works.

What do they have to do with the GreatestHappiness principle of Utilitarianism?

1. Why is justice a challenging topic for a utilitarian?

With a better understanding of the rationale and limits of Mill'sliberal principles, we can take a closer look at the details of hiscategorical approach, including its centerpiece—the harmprinciple.

2. Summarize Mill's argument in this chapter.

There is nosuch constraint put on him by the principle of `utility...grounded onthe permanent interests of man as a progressive being'.

It was remarked earlier that it would be unkind to assign a nullity toMill -- the fifth principle that the state and society can intervene ifan individual violates some moral rights or other, with these beingleft entirely unclear.

Mill comments on the gravity of the issues:


Arthur Miller was an American playwright, who was born in 1915.

Third, it is important to be clear about how Mill values basicliberties. To account for the robust character of his perfectionistargument, it is tempting to suppose that Mill thinks these basicliberties are themselves important intrinsic goods (see Berger 1984:41, 50, 199, 231–32; Bogen and Farrell 1978: 325–28). Butin Mill's introductory remarks he insists that his liberal principlesdo not apply to individuals who do not have a suitably developednormative competence (I 10). So, for instance, the prohibition onpaternalism does not extend to children with immature deliberativefaculties or to adults with very limited normative competence, whetherdue to congenital defects or social circumstance. Such restrictions onthe scope of Mill's principles make little sense if basic liberties aredominant intrinsic goods, for then it should always be valuable toaccord people liberties—a claim that Mill denies. Instead, Millclaims that these liberties have value only when various necessaryconditions for the exercise of deliberative capacities—inparticular, sufficient rational development or normativecompetence—are in place.

`John Stuart Mill' in (Oxford University Press, 1995), ed.

Would it be unkind to assign to Mill the sixthprinciple -- that there can be intervention if an individual violatesmoral rights based on some principle having to do with utility, qualityas well as quantity of satisfaction, man as a progressive being,individuality, diversity, development, creativity, and so on?

Well, unkind or not, it is necessary.

Ten's paper `Mill's Defence of Liberty' is alsoin this collection.

To ask isnot necessarily to worry about them, but just to want to know.

It as often been said that is inconsistent because Mill's commitment to utility conflicts with hiscommitment, whatever it is, to individual liberties.