The Importance of Freedom in all Aspects - Essay Example

Insert due Liberty of conscience and individuality A civil servant and political economist, he was the most influential philosopher in his era during the nineteenth century. His fight for the acceptance of liberty for every individual was the most impactful compared to any other philosopher like John Stuart Mill is a public figure to reckon with as his role as a philosopher during his time was the most impactful in the lives of his fellow citizens. He advocated for freedom of every personnel in an attempt to have the right of each individual considered in policy making and governance of the country. His contribution has led to many changes in the systems of governance across the world. He might have put much focus and contribution in his own country for his fellow countrymen, but this has influenced leadership of nations across the globe. The liberty of every person is an essential factor for governance; as one is able to demand their right as well as play a role in the way they are governed by freedom of speech and demonstration. In this essay am solely going to expound on what Mill advocated for in his quest for liberty in his country as its written in his book On liberty. Mill had a strong believe on the liberty of an individual and had his strong points to back his reasoning at such a time when many governments were transitioning and locked out any idea of a person trying to criticize or influence other citizens. One of his greatest opinions was on the fact that there should be different experiments of living. This was based on the fact that human beings are flawed in their way of acting and reasoning, but this should not be a determinant of what they could be permitted to do or not to do. He argued that opinions of any individual should be done in action as long they did not interfere with the lives of others around them. To him as long a person’s opinions could be freely formed and expressed, so should be his actions on the same opinion. According to Mill societies had to factor this opinion in action the same way they had considered it just as an opinion. He stated that if an individual chooses to follow his opinion in what he/ she believes is right, they should be allowed to put into action. Actions meant that an individual could do whatever he/ she values to be right and justified as long as they never complicate the lives of others around them. According to Mill, the process of taking opinions into another level which was action had to be acceptable by the fact that a number of characters about an individual are not likely to harm others around him/ her (Mill & John, 2008). Stuart Mill had a strong stand to the opinion that experimenting with the ways of living allowed for the different ways of life to be proved practically. From his understanding, Mill thought that it was worth asserting oneself or individual in things that did not concern others around them. Been free meant being able to put into practice what you believed in despite of the immediate environment that surrounded you. This action a person chooses to employ should be genuine and based on good reasoning. An individual action should not cross over to another person’s privacy or border. Therefore, John Stuart Mill was basing his understanding on the different opportunities that life offers to every liberal minded singular and the ability to take advantage of it to try opinions they have in real life. The term experimenting with life was based on the factors stated herein. Experimenting meant giving a chance to an opinion a person has to be put into action. This idea was thus based on liberty to do practical things in life based on opinion an individual has. His ability to reason and see things at a different angle was outstanding and so reasonable. Mill believed in the power of giving every person a fair chance to live life fully without limitations by any one or rule (Mill & John, 2008). Mill further discussed his opinion on the right to act as a person pleases. He stated that there is no one with an idea that is unique and cannot be copied by other people. In his believe, a person could emulate the actions of another person without limits. As long a person is pleased with what they do, the opinion of any person either positive or negative should not deter them from finding happiness. A person should not ignore the experiences they learn from some actions of freedom. It would be unwise to follow or keep on doing something that an individual does not find any comfort in doing it. Therefore, there is the freedom to have a preference of one action to another out of the experience. No one is denied to choose what they comfy in most as compared to another. Freedom of action should be something that an individual grows in to over time. However, not everyone gets a chance to know how to generated with views that depict the nature of action that an individual chooses to do. An individual can be trained or even taught at their youth. This aspect of been taught to know what action is preferable to another shows the power of having the freedom to do things that a person loves. Mill further stated that a mature individual had the privilege of understanding and interpreting actions in his own opinion. A person who is free and of sane mind should not just sit and let an outside force to influence their opinion on what they believe in and should be their choice of action. In this time and era external factors should not influence a person’s decision on matters relating to their life. The liberty to make decisions based on a person’s own opinion lies in their hands. The philosopher went ahead to describe the act of not been able to make use of an individual freedom to make a decision of actions that a person is comfortable with as old fashioned and primitive. Mill hence stood for liberty for all individuals and helped people understand him better by stating all the factors that relate to making use of freedom in life (Mill & John, 2008). Therefore from the facts of Mills as its stated herein, freedom is every ones hands and the ability to make, use of this freedom is based on an individual’s a personal decision. According to him, experimenting with life meant having the freedom to choose between the many choices of action an individual could indulge on. Freedom was a matter of an individual’s understanding and that an individual could choose one action over another depending on what pleases a person. The choice of action should not be influenced by what others think of it, but rather on a solid decision of an individual and their aspiration should be not affected by opinion of others. From these facts of freedom according to John Stuart Mill point of view and understanding just as opinions are based on believes of faith, so should the actions that individual intents to take. However the actions are not supposed to interfere with the coexistence of other people or compromise peace in a place (Mill & John, 2008). On another juncture, Mill went ahead to state that society must indulge in alternative ways of living for a man to be true to his nature. According to his believe individuality is based on the part of life which an individual finds interest in doing. On the other hand, the society should base their interest on the matter that concerns the society at large. The authority of the society over an individual plays an extremely vital role in shaping the attractiveness of a person. As its always the norm, every individual must belong to a particular society. This society influences the way an individual sees and understands things through their customs and beliefs among the members. Every society has its hierarchy of doing things, and this hierarchy is also based on age gaps as per the difference in number of years that vary among individuals. This kind of sets the trend of the procedures, things are done and anyone who goes against the procedures or rules of a community is bound to getting punished as a result. The punishments are not just a way of instilling fear among members but rather a systematic way to bring sanity among the members. Mill believes that for an individual to be true to his nature society must play a vital role. This is true and relies on so many facts of the role a society in a man’s way of liberal life. In as much as freedom is the right of every single, a man should learn to keep the boundaries of his freedom. The society deals with all its members and not personal issues of a person. Therefore, the society offers protection to all its members and expects them to respect the rights of each other, and that each person should play a role in terms of work done and contribute in defending the members of the society. The society is at times faced with limits of what to do and what not to do. This happens in cases of personal life of a man which is termed as the private life of a person. Therefore, the society cannot try to interfere with whatever issues a man faces without his own will. At this point, it becomes a point of dilemma for the society in the case where the personal life of a person may affect those close to him and are members of the society. Therefore, the society has to look for alternative ways to help such an individual. The society might help a man in matters of personal life, but this is only possible when it is not one person involved. Society forbids a person from using his own life even if it only concerns himself. A man might do as he pleases since he is the one to be the final judge on his fate. However, the society comes in when his judgment is not favorable to other members of the society. Therefore, it is the work of the society to intervene at times of such crisis when a man’s personal decision does not consider the interest of everyone else in the society. At times of such dilemma, the society choose to sacrifice for the sake of human freedom. This happens at the expenditure of the entire society in the case of personal related issues (Mill & John, 2008). According to Mill societies are the most vibrant in terms of free custom and coercion. This is based on facts of leadership and influence in decision making processes in structures of leadership. It is argued that in as much as the society respects the personal life of a man, the government interferes with such policies. This is illustrated by three objectives of the government in personal matters. That is the matter being managed by individuals of the government, individuals might do it as per their understanding in education and adding the governments power is unfavorable. Therefore, the government does not respect the freedom of people in matters of personal life and issues. In all institutions of government, the procedures of attending and dealing with employees does not factor the freedom of an employee doing what they think is their right. The process of motivating government employees is not based on what everyone believes individual. Therefore, the structures of leadership in a state have been known to violate the freedom of the people as well as not valuing the personal life of an individual. The society therefor remains to be most vibrant in embracing matters of freedom to everyone in society. Society protects the interests of all members holistically without diverting attention elsewhere. Issues relating to personal life are respected, and decisions of a man are based on his personal desire and feeling. The freedom to make a decision for a person in a situation lies in the individuals wish. As it has been stated herein, in as much as the society may intent to help in personal matters it chooses to sacrifice its own member’s situation in respect for freedom of a man. This demonstrates the level of respect the society has on matters of liberty of individuals as compared to the governments of many states. Therefore in comparison between the two, the society is more sensitive in matters of freedom among its members as compared to the government to its citizens. The whole analysis of this article is based on matters of liberty of individuals. It uses different perspectives to demonstrate issues relating personal freedom of man. Issue has been observed with broader out look to provide a clear guide on the undying efforts of John Stuart Mill. The philosopher worked so hard to brand sure that the veracious of freedom for every human being were respected. He has used the exact basic situations to explain the importance of freedom in all aspects. John Stuart Mill has been more elaborate on the most basic areas that human freedom applies. He has however given the limits of this freedom for the coexistence of all people. The environment that a man finds himself in determines his kind of freedom. Freedom is also learned as a person matures up. Therefore to conclude on the matter of freedom as demonstrated by the work of Mill, it is the role of everybody in the world to respect and accept the power of liberty in an individual’s life. A person should understand his freedom, his role in the society to promote freedom and the States responsibility of assuring the right to freedom for everyone. Work cited Mill, John S, and John S. Mill. On Liberty: And Utilitarianism. New York: Bantam Classic, 2008. Internet resource. Read More