Notes on John Stuart Mill's On Liberty
NOTEs on John Stuart Mill's On Liberty 1) Introduction: Mill's primary work on rights is On Liberty, which was published in England in 1859. John Stuart Mill was the student of his father James Mill and Jeremy Bentham, who raised him to defend the theory of Utilitarianism. John Stuart Mill was a child prodigy and a genius of historical magnitude. He began reading Greek at the age of three, and Latin at the age of eight - he went on to published important work in a wide range of philosophy, economics, and some of the earliest feminist theory. 2) Overview: a) Not a social contract theory: Mill's theory is not a social contract theory, and he has no hypothesis about the state of nature or natural rights. Rather, Mill states that his theory of rights is justified by his moral theory, utilitarianism. However, it is not necessary to understand utilitarianism in order to understand his theory of rights. Because of this, I will delay most discussion of the connection between the two theories until the end of this section. b) Basics of the theory: Mill's argues that a just state will provide a strong assurance of negative rights to all of its citizens, and will interfere as little as possible in the daily lives of its citizens. The argument begins with a recognition that there is a danger in a democratic government (one that was mentioned as an objection to Locke).
Lady Liberty
LADY LIBERTY It was 1885 in New York City. A little boy named Frederick Bloomsmen was hurrying down the streets to get to his master's shop. "Mayhap if I hurry, I'll get to see Lady Liberty," Frederick thought. But as he ran along, he heard the town clock strike 6:00. "Oh no! I've got to make haste!" Frederick said desperately. Frederick had been delivering a saddle to the cart builder and had spent too long talking to the cart builder's son. Slam! The door to his master's store opened and shut as Frederick ran in. "Where have you been??" Mr. Ezra (for that was Frederick's master's name) roared. "Delivering the saddle, sir, just as you asked me to," Frederick answered timidly. "Well, you're late!" Mr. Ezra boomed. It was finally Saturday, Frederick's day off. He ran down the streets, as if racing the wind to see who could get to Lady Liberty skeleton first. Suddenly, he stopped still, for in a shop window sat the loveliest carved figure of Lady Liberty herself! His eyebrows slid up. He ran into the shop. "Excuse me, sir, how much money is that figure of Lady Liberty?" Frederick asked. "Well laddie, it's worth 15 cents but I'm lowering the price to 10 cents." "Ten cents," Frederick's head rang out as he ran home, "Where can I get such a fortune?" The next Monday, Frederick had almost forgotten the figurine. "Mr. Ezra, sir, may I please have my wages?" "All
The Liberty Bell
Kimberly Cuthbert-Holmes June 2, 2008 St. Thomas Aquinas Mrs. Kral Social Studies - The Liberty Bell The Liberty Bell is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a symbol of the American Revolutionary War. The bell has served as one of the most prominent symbols of America. Throughout out the world it is known as a sign of liberty and justice. In 1754, the bell was ordered by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly to be used in the Pennsylvania State House, which today is known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry located in London, United Kingdom cast the bell. It came over on the ship Hibernia. The following year, the bell was hung temporary in the square outside of the State House. After being rung a few times, the bell cracked. Once the bell cracked, a replacement from Whitechapel was ordered. John Dock Pass and John Stow, both of Philadelphia, built the new bell. Both of their names are inscribed on the ball. Copper was added to the composition of the alloy used to cast the bell, and the public was unsatisfied by the tone of the new bell. The two men recast the bell again, restoring the correct amount of metal, and this bell third bell was hung in the steeple of the State House in June of 1753. The bell rang to announce the opening of the First Continental Congress in 1774 and after the Battle of Lexington and
Why Do Liberals Place Such Importance On The Concept Of Liberty?
Why Do Liberals Place Such Importance On The Concept Of Liberty? Liberalism is a political viewpoint of which the key concept is that of liberty, as indicted by its title. Liberty is the birthright of an individual to have freedom of choice without coercion from others. It gives individuals the entitlement to do as they wish which, in turn, has the implication of a plural society in which tolerance is a vital component in order for social harmony to remain. Within liberalism, however, there are two further perspectives, that which we call 'classical' and another called 'social' (Heywood, A. 1998. p.30). Classical liberalism advocates that people should be completely free from intervention, particularly from the state, so that everyone is treated equally. Social liberalists state that, although people should be free to dictate their own lives, some state intervention is required in order to maintain that everyone is given an equal chance to succeed. They support initiatives such as free healthcare and education for all as well as welfare for the underprivileged. The ideas of liberty promoted by classical liberalists and social liberalists are therefore somewhat different. In his book, 'Two Concepts of Liberty', Berlin highlighted this and called the concept of liberty favoured by classical liberalists 'negative' liberty and that preferred by the social liberalists
"America-Sweet Land of Liberty"
"America-Sweet Land of Liberty" Amy Gladd 172 Queen Junction Rd Butler, PA 16001 (724) 637 3173 165 70 0515 Herold J. Thompson American Legion Post 243 West Sunbury, PA 16061 Carl and Sara Gladd "America-Sweet Land of Liberty" Many Americans have different views on liberty. The definition of liberty is freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. shared his dream of liberty for all ethnic races to millions. John F. Kennedy believed free America needed to help the poor and unite nations. Lastly, Martin Luther took advantage of his freedoms and told the Catholic church all of its' faults. These three men expressed their views on liberty in unique ways. Martin Luther King, Jr., a son of a preacher man grew up to be regarded as one of the greatest leaders and heroes in American history. Mr. King expressed his desire for all races to be free by giving heart-felt but intense speeches. He also held strikes, picket lines, and started boycotts. He emphasized for people to put an end to violence and to dispute their differences. He desired for the white human race to give all the other ethnic races the same treatment. He longed for his children to grow up in a town where white and black children could play together. His view of liberty was that everyone should share it together. All races need to be free. President John F. Kennedy longed for America to assist other nations
Analysis of Liberty in Society
Analysis of Liberty in Society Both Adam Smith and Alexis de Tocqueville agree that an individual is the most qualified to make decisions affecting the sphere of the individual as long as those decisions do not violate the law of justice. From this starting point, each theorist proposes a role of government and comments on human nature and civil society. Smith focuses on economic liberty and the ways in which government can repress this liberty, to the detriment of society. De Tocqueville emphasizes political liberty and the way that government can be organized to promote political liberty, protect individual liberty, and promote civil liberty. Adam Smith's theory makes a strong argument for the assertion that a free market will provide overall good for society, but, as de Tocqueville points out, it provides little or no protection for the poor. Smith's picture of human nature given in The Theory of Moral Sentiments suggests that people would do good and take care of the weak because of characteristics of their nature. Unfortunately, this image contrasts with the picture of the individual which emerges from his economic argument in Wealth of Nations and is a generally unsatisfying answer. In attempting to define liberty, Adam Smith is mostly concerned with negative liberty, or freedom from constraint, especially market constraints.
What are the limitations on our personal liberty? Are all of them justified?
What are the limitations on our personal liberty? Are all of them justified? Liberty can be interpreted as meaning the freedom to do something without restrictions. The principal interpretations of liberty are 'negative liberty', which can be understood as freedom from restrictions; 'positive liberty', which can be understood as freedom to do things; and the view that there is such a small difference between these two interpretations that a distinction is unwarranted, as the ability to do something necessarily involves a lack of restrictions. The differences between the two interpretations regard the way in which people wish to treat liberty. Those who view liberty in the 'negative' sense generally feel that the role of law should be as limited as possible, whereas those who view it in the 'positive' sense generally feel that laws are needed so as to help people to achieve their full potential liberty. The interpretation taken by recent British governments has mostly been the latter, though some governments have considered the former in some situations. In this essay I will consider two areas of liberty: that of an individual's liberty in the private domain and that of an individual's liberty in the public domain. I will assess whether particular British (although sometimes not Scottish) and European laws that limit personal liberty are justified, and will assess
What did Rousseau mean by 'liberty'?
What did Rousseau mean by 'liberty'? Liberty, by definition, is the 'immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority; political independence.'1 However Rousseau distinguishes two specific types of liberty, natural liberty and civil or moral liberty. Natural liberty, Rousseau states, is the freedom to pursue one's own desires whereas civil liberty is the freedom to pursue the general will. The general will is a key concept in Rousseau's The Social Contract; Rousseau defines the general will as the majority opinion of what is most beneficial to the common interest without any influence from private interest. Freedom and liberty for the individual were hugely popular topics during the time that Rousseau was writing. However where Rousseau stood apart from the other major political and philosophical thinkers of the time was in the manner that he laid out the problem of loss of liberty in society, and the way he went about trying to find the solution to retrieving it. In his first essay, The Discourse on the Arts and Sciences, Rousseau contended that through the arts and sciences man has lost his morals, corrupting him, causing wants and creating inequalities which in turn has lead to dependency and hence a loss of liberty. Rousseau opens part two of his second paper, Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men, with 'The first person who, having enclosed a plot
How many Concepts of Liberty are there?
Theory of Politics Sonali Peiris How many Concepts of Liberty are there? Liberty or freedom is arguably one of the most valuable things to man. Those without it may be willing to argue, fight or even lose their lives in pursuit of what they feel is so vitally important to their lives. In general when talk of liberty we mean the right to live our lives on our terms, not under the power of some external agent. That liberty is considered such a significant value is not called into question. The fact that it is thought to be so important to so many people however has meant that there has been a great deal of discussion on what exactly it is we mean by the term liberty, and under what conditions would we consider people to be 'free'. Political philosophers have many theories in response to this and it is necessary to analyse some of the main arguments and concepts to get a clearer idea of how to be more precise about the idea of liberty. It is possible to identify three main strands of thought on the meaning and nature of liberty, although we must recognise that there are variations of beliefs about the specifics within each classification. First there is what David Miller calls the Republican family. Here liberty is set within a political framework. A person is free when there are
The Death of Lady Liberty
The Death of Lady Liberty By Lloyd W. Williams There is a fire burning inside of me. My heart is consumed with grief, over the banishment of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". I feel a pain that is not mine. It exists in the wastelands. It is a territory that is vast, sinful and dangerous. I see faces of children dieing and their mothers letting them pass, as if there were somewhere better then the hellish spawn in which they endure. These children are also in the wastelands. It is a land that has gained no promise...and no pity. It is the land that is north, south, east and west of were men and women take for granted all that their country should stand for. It's not far away...it's very close...it's simply across any American boarder. There was a Lady that held a torch, a torch that absorbed this pain. She wanted all who dreamt of crossing the boarder to do so, with no questions asked. The lady new that "this land... was made for you and me." I thought that it included everybody? I was wrong. There is a select few that are not welcome to cross the boarders. The individuals consist of everyone that was born on the other side, especially if they are tainted with poverty and possess little identity. An injustice is being performed. "Someone must help!" "Help!"... "Help"... "Help"...and no one hears this cry. So I turned to the lady...the lady
