John Stuart Mill on Liberty - Essay Example

John Stuart Mill on Liberty John Stuart Mill wrote an essay in dis where he discussed matters concerned with human liberty and the distinctions that exist between liberty and authority. The essay was written in the 1800s over a period of years of editing. The author and his wife kept improving and adding material to the original essay until his wife’s demise when it was published. This paper aims at discussing the historical events that seem to have motivated Mills to write On Liberty and his analysis on them. Mills remonstrates in his essay from a non-paternalistic point of view where he identifies three basic areas of human liberty. He claims that an individual should not be deterred from pursuits meant for self gratification as long as they do not pose any harm to others. The only instance that a person can be denied their liberties is when they pose a risk or harm to other persons. He sums this up when he describes this as every individual’s right to exercise his or her inward domain of consciousness (Winks & Neuberger 51). The other area, which Mills identifies, is a person’s right to decide on the path, in life, they wish to take, which is represented as the liberty of tastes and pursuits. In this, he tries to show how humans are a dynamic entity that is capable of forging its own destiny individually without having to rely on guidelines from other people. The notion being forwarded by Mill’s three basic principles of human liberty are focused on individuality. Individuality is the key tenent in human nature that determines the influence and the impact that people have on others and the world. Individuality determines whether a person’s liberties are construed as dangerous to society because that person’s nature is expressed by how he utilizes his rights of liberty (Winker & Neuberger 59). History played a critical role on the development of philosophies and principles that he used to write his essay. Mills argued that there was a need for a scientific perspective and approach towards history in order for it to be used effectively utilized in society. Mills termed history as a progressive record in the course of events that contribute to the development of mankind. There were some scholars of his time who did not see the sense in his views, and some went ahead and disputed his postulates about the importance of history. This saw Mills go through a depressing time in his life and a change in his views on some subjects that he had earlier agreed upon. His depression created a period in his life where he was able to reflect on a wide range of ideas. His conviction on the importance of history in the study of other disciplines, in the humanities, grew stronger during this period. Mills focused his attention on French history, which he deemed more appropriate because most French thinkers at the time seemed to share in his schools of thought. Mills believed that historical events had a significant bearing on the development of society in the present. He also postulated that these events also had a substantial bearing to future events if inferences could be made on the past with regard to the future. Mills was able to study history through a scientific mindset and analyze historical facts. Mills forwarded the notion that historical facts can be used to unveil the law of progress which can enable people predict the future. There were some significant influences in his life that contributed to his notions about the role history had to play in relation with other disciplines. One of the influences came from his interaction with French scholars and their written works concerning a wide range of subjects some, which intrigued him because of their philosophies regarding history’s role. Mills involvement in the The London Debating Society gave him the opportunity to make acquaintance of people like Samuel Coleridge (Winker & Neuberger 184). Coleridge’s philosophies regarding history complemented Mill’s notions of history’s role in society and its relation to other disciplines. It was through the debating society that Mill was also acquainted with the French scholar, Gustaved’Eichtal, who introduced him to a French perspective on the role of history through the writings of Saint-Simon and Comet. What Mills appreciated in all of these scholars was their general bearing in their views and philosophies that seemed to correlate to what he had in mind. Mills main aim regarding to history was to establish a principle that enabled the scientific study of society. This was meant to create a direct link between unfolding historical and political events in the future and present. In his written works of On Liberty, Mills alludes to the industrial revolution in Europe which saw the strengthening of commerce and rise of powerful empires throughout the continent. This led Mills to address the moral impacts of industrialization in the sense that although people appreciated the material production of commodities and the improvements it brought to life; it also represented a moral and spiritual degradation. Industrialization brought with it increased urbanization, cosmopolitanism and material wealth leading to a shift in the way people perceived and related to one another. This means that industrialization unintentionally promoted a corrupting influence on people’s morals in the guise of civilization (Winker & Neuberger 98). Mills claims that his concern for the impact of economic growth spurred by the industrial revolution was affinity for a brand of socialism. Mills postulates that the negative impact of the revolution on morals could be mitigated by transforming the workplace. It entails changing the work place from an antagonism filled place, to a setting where the workers the feel as part of a greater cause than what their jobs entail. Industrial revolution encouraged the development of selfishness in the industrial society a scenario he said could be solved by development of industrial co-operatives. These co-operatives were equipped with the ability to compete with traditional firms. This is because they involved the workers in all levels of the production process, giving the workers a sense of duty to the firm. Mills notion of formation of co-operatives in the work place were not fitting to the workers of those times due to their lack of adequate education and development (Winker & Neuberger 109). The notion is extremely applicable in today’s world, and it has seen firms and workers reap immense benefits from co-operative society movements. This goes to show how Mill’s insights were the work of a fine mind that was capable of projecting into the nature of future trends in economics. Mills explores the nature of women’s liberties in India, Ireland and France during and before the 1800s. Women since ancient times and with respect to Mill’s references to countries mentioned above, women were insubordinate to men. Rape was not recognized as phenomena that could occur in marriage, children belonged to the husband, and they had no controlling rights to property. Women also had fewer grounds for divorce and they lacked critical features of legal identity. This is because the husband was taken as the representative of all family interests and its members. Mills asserts that it is one of the contributing factors that hindered the development and improvement of human civilizations since time in memorial. Mills claims that this insubordination should be replaced by the principle of equality where there is no admittance of power to one side or disabling the other. This insubordination, of women limits, humans from achieving greater fetes, as their potential dictates, because there is restricted participation of one half of the equation to garner a whole that is equipped with greater potential. Insubordination of women in society stunts their intellectual and moral development by restricting their involvement in endeavors that contribute to the greater good of the society. Due to this phenomenon, women are pushed to self-sacrifice, and they develop into selfish and petty individuals who are low on self-esteem and belief in self. Mills postulates that, for a higher level of improvement on human development to be achieved, changes should be made to the experiences and upbringing of women which will change their minds. This is because women are not submissive by nature, but it is because the environment they live in shapes their perceptions and concepts about their place in society. Liberty, according to Mills, was an absolute principle that he argued should be maintained at all costs because he believed that it was an essential element, in the humankind. This means that for mankind to be a distinguishable being, their liberties should not be curtailed because these liberties are what constitute an individual. Restriction of liberties robs individuals the opportunity to develop self serving identities that contribute to the improvement and development of mankind. Mills, on the other hand, forwards the idea that, in some ancient civilizations like the Akbar kingdom, the population there required their liberties to be restricted. This is because the culture and the environment of those people could not sustain a system composed of uncivilized people as envisaged by the then rulers. Therefore, the rulers of Akbar restricted the liberties of their subjects in order to maintain a peaceful nation. When unrestricted liberties are let lose on a population that does not have sound and strong moral foundations, people are bound to abuse their liberties. This leads to a society where people are not mindful of other people’s interests, and the society turns to become a chaotic institution. Absolute liberties should only be granted where there exist strong moral foundations, which act as guidelines for people on how to respect one another’s liberties. This ensures that a society lives in harmony where individuals have an opportunity to develop and improve, on self, to achieve a greater semblance of a perfect society. The use of historical references by Mills in his essay On Liberty enables the literary work convey its message more effectively. Mills’ notions on liberty have a significant influence on today’s perceptions regarding the issue because they are still applicable today even more so, on a wider scale of subjects. On Liberty utilizes historical events to show how matters being addressed in the essay have been shaped by these events and their significance. Historical events help solve the challenges posed by human social lives by looking back at how people in those times dealt with the situation. Past can provide remedies that can be useful in solving present challenges if applied in the context of the underlying problem. Mills used his understanding of the past to make inferences about the present and future. Work Cited Winker, R. W. & Neuberger, J. Europe And The Making Of Modernity: 1815-1914. Illustrated Edition. London: Oxford University Press, Incorporated. 2005. Print. Read More