JS Mill

Question 1

What does Mill argue about democracy and individuality?

Answer 1

Mill fears that democracy can suppress individual thought through majoritarian rule.

Question 2

What does Mill think about freedom of speech?

Answer 2

Mill champions absolute freedom of speech, even for false or harmful ideas, as false opinions must be allowed because refutation strengthens the truth.

Question 3

How does Mill define liberty?

Answer 3

Allowing individuals to act spontaneously and without conforming to rigid societal norms.

Question 4

What is Mill’s Harm Principle?

Answer 4

Individuals should only be restricted when their actions harm others; Purpose for exercise of power - prevent harm to others

Question 5

What is the Greatest Happiness Principle, according to Mill?

Answer 5

Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.

Question 6

How does Mill conceptualize the Morality of Utilitarianism?

Answer 6

Consequentialism: Morality is dependent on the outcome of an action, more specifically on the amount of happiness to be gained or the amount of pain to be evaded.