Definitions
Mill, John Stuart (1806
- 73): English
empiricist philosopher and social reformer.
On Liberty (1859)
related three fundamental freedoms of the individual (those of belief, of tastes
and pursuits, and of uniting with others) to the powers of authority and social
demands. Men must be encouraged to express their individuality. Actions, however,
have consequences and it is the duty of rulers and society to restrain men from
damaging others' interests and to require them to assume responsibility in furthering
the interests of their community. Nevertheless, Mill argued that restrictions
on the liberty of the individual are justifiable only in so far as they are
necessary to prevent actual harm to others, and was especially concerned to
advocate the most unrestricted freedom of speech and publication.
A
Dictionary Of Philosophy. Second edition. (Pan Books 1984). PP 231-232.
Self-regarding.
A term applied by J. S. Mill to actions that affect only the agent, to be contrasted
with not self-regarding (or other-regarding) actions. In On Liberty Mill
held that the only sphere in which outside coercion or interference with the
individual (by the law, government etc.) was permissible was with respect to
other-regarding actions, that is, in order to prevent an individual from harming
others. An individual should never be constrained with respect to self-regarding
actions.
Ibid. P
323.
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