John Stuart Mill Being Free Essay
When we explore the word liberty it’s acceptable and justly. The concepts of being free to do whatever pleases oneself introduce the happiness in an individual. To be open and not fear to express on issues that are surrounding you, leave you in a liberated state of mind. Sadly, over a period of time and throughout history the word liberty have been revised and altered to slant its real clarification. Liberty for us means the state of being free to exercise our rights anyhow we want to, without the government imposing. John Stuart Mill On liberty, it illustrates individual freedom, along with regard against the tyranny of the majority over thoughts, discussion, and the limitation on the power of government and society of interfering in our lives.
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In the beginning, looking back at the so-called liberty which the government imposed on its people, we can identify so much damage that has been done. According to Mill, “the subject of this essay is not the so-called liberty of the will, so unfortunately opposed to the misnamed doctrine of philosophical….over the individual.” (Liberty 1). Long ago, there has been the struggle between liberty and authority. The ruler had derived his power from inheritance, not by the choice of the people and was able to rule however he pleased. They were putting their needs first before the greater good of their people. The likely individual had no right to express their idea on the matter. It was the ruler jurisdiction and no one else. They had absolute power.
The appearance of liberty over the individual was not a positive view. The growing government was really a frustration to the public, especially when their voices were not being heard. People have an unusual way to respond to a government when their rights are being limited. They could either have a riot or overthrow the government. It is necessary for individuals to feel their lives are not being dictated by society. They should have the freedom to think however they want. Mill defends the right of the people to express their opinion either spoken or written he said “to prevent the weaker members of the community from being preyed upon by innumerable vultures it was needful that there should be an animal of prey stronger” (liberty 2). For Mills people thoughts should not be suppressed by the government, so by restricting the power of government it will work best for the benefit of the people. For Mill, everyone’s voice should be heard; it should not only be those of the majority but everyone. People are fallible, so all sorts of opinions should come across. He said, “The opinion which it is attempted to suppress by authority may possibly be true” (liberty 14). This means that the tyranny of the majority should hear all sides of an argument because we make mistakes. Not only one voice should matter, but everyone. When only one voice was matter, we had unnecessary wars and execution of important people once they expressed their beliefs. On liberty page 17 Mill showed by having the liberty to free thoughts and discussion, we can learn from experienced and hear a different point of view, not just one concept.
The basis of liberty should be extended to all aspects of each individual life.
Our thoughts should be able to liberate us. The fact that we are individual we should be free to express our opinions and say whatever we want without the public persecution. For Mill, we are free to do whatever we want with our lives, as long as it does not interfere with someone else life. Paternalism is acceptable for children, but not adult. For example, a parent might prevent his/her child from saying or seeing something. But society cannot tell an adult not to say this or that or not to comport a certain way that they wish. He said, “It is a privilege and proper condition of a human being arrived at the maturity of his faculties to use and interpret experience in his own way.” (Liberty 48). The government cannot tell anyone not to harm him/herself. But they can restrict them for harming someone else. Yet, looking at the real world the tyranny of the majority rules us and tells us what to do. Minorities don’t have a say-so in the matter. There’s not really liberty as mill described in his book. “there is no reason that all human existences should be constructed on someone or some small number of patterns…..human beings are not like sheep and even sheep are not indistinguishable ”(liberty 56). Mills was clear that individuals are unique and should be free to do what they wished. They should not be coerced to do what others want them to do otherwise; it is seen as restrictions on their liberty. Nevertheless, we always have society on the background restricting individual of their liberty. They restrict our liberty starting with what we are allowed to say in public and what we watch on the television and what we hear in the news. We think we have rights, but they shape our life in various
ways.
On liberty, by Mill so many questions are being raised as to; do we have freedom? Do we really have free will? Or when does the government can interfere in my life? We all know that tyranny of the majority will always impose on our liberty because we need protection. Liberty and protection are part of our life. If we have complete liberty there will be chaos, so we need protection. Whereas if we have absolute protection, then it will always overpower our liberties. If we lack individuality we thereby lack freedom and we thereby lack what make us human. The perspective of the book was how the majority can impose in our life and followed the importance of our liberties. First are the freedom of thought and discussion, without freedom of thought and discussion there can be no such thing as wisdom also no such thing as public liberty. Those two liberties that’s when Mill reminded of Socrates fate “mankind can hardly be too often reminded, that there was once a man named Socrates, between whom and the legal authorities and public opinion of his time, there took place a memorable collision.” (Liberty 20). Mill reminded us of Socrates because in that era people did not have the right to express their opinion, they just had to follow whatever had been said, so Mill saw it as a disadvantage because when people are not allowed to say how they feel no progress would be accomplished.
In the beginning, looking back at the so-called liberty which the government imposed on its people, we can identify so much damage that has been done. According to Mill, “the subject of this essay is not the so-called liberty of the will, so unfortunately opposed to the misnamed doctrine of philosophical….over the individual.” (Liberty 1). Long ago, there has been the struggle between liberty and authority. The ruler had derived his power from inheritance, not by the choice of the people and was able to rule however he pleased. They were putting their needs first before the greater good of their people. The likely individual had no right to express their idea on the matter. It was the ruler jurisdiction and no one else. They had absolute power.
The appearance of liberty over the individual was not a positive view. The growing government was really a frustration to the public, especially when their voices were not being heard. People have an unusual way to respond to a government when their rights are being limited. They could either have a riot or overthrow the government. It is necessary for individuals to feel their lives are not being dictated by society. They should have the freedom to think however they want. Mill defends the right of the people to express their opinion either spoken or written he said “to prevent the weaker members of the community from being preyed upon by innumerable vultures it was needful that there should be an animal of prey stronger” (liberty 2). For Mills people thoughts should not be suppressed by the government, so by restricting the power of government it will work best for the benefit of the people. For Mill, everyone’s voice should be heard; it should not only be those of the majority but everyone. People are fallible, so all sorts of opinions should come across. He said, “The opinion which it is attempted to suppress by authority may possibly be true” (liberty 14). This means that the tyranny of the majority should hear all sides of an argument because we make mistakes. Not only one voice should matter, but everyone. When only one voice was matter, we had unnecessary wars and execution of important people once they expressed their beliefs. On liberty page 17 Mill showed by having the liberty to free thoughts and discussion, we can learn from experienced and hear a different point of view, not just one concept.
The basis of liberty should be extended to all aspects of each individual life.
Our thoughts should be able to liberate us. The fact that we are individual we should be free to express our opinions and say whatever we want without the public persecution. For Mill, we are free to do whatever we want with our lives, as long as it does not interfere with someone else life. Paternalism is acceptable for children, but not adult. For example, a parent might prevent his/her child from saying or seeing something. But society cannot tell an adult not to say this or that or not to comport a certain way that they wish. He said, “It is a privilege and proper condition of a human being arrived at the maturity of his faculties to use and interpret experience in his own way.” (Liberty 48). The government cannot tell anyone not to harm him/herself. But they can restrict them for harming someone else. Yet, looking at the real world the tyranny of the majority rules us and tells us what to do. Minorities don’t have a say-so in the matter. There’s not really liberty as mill described in his book. “there is no reason that all human existences should be constructed on someone or some small number of patterns…..human beings are not like sheep and even sheep are not indistinguishable ”(liberty 56). Mills was clear that individuals are unique and should be free to do what they wished. They should not be coerced to do what others want them to do otherwise; it is seen as restrictions on their liberty. Nevertheless, we always have society on the background restricting individual of their liberty. They restrict our liberty starting with what we are allowed to say in public and what we watch on the television and what we hear in the news. We think we have rights, but they shape our life in various
ways.
On liberty, by Mill so many questions are being raised as to; do we have freedom? Do we really have free will? Or when does the government can interfere in my life? We all know that tyranny of the majority will always impose on our liberty because we need protection. Liberty and protection are part of our life. If we have complete liberty there will be chaos, so we need protection. Whereas if we have absolute protection, then it will always overpower our liberties. If we lack individuality we thereby lack freedom and we thereby lack what make us human. The perspective of the book was how the majority can impose in our life and followed the importance of our liberties. First are the freedom of thought and discussion, without freedom of thought and discussion there can be no such thing as wisdom also no such thing as public liberty. Those two liberties that’s when Mill reminded of Socrates fate “mankind can hardly be too often reminded, that there was once a man named Socrates, between whom and the legal authorities and public opinion of his time, there took place a memorable collision.” (Liberty 20). Mill reminded us of Socrates because in that era people did not have the right to express their opinion, they just had to follow whatever had been said, so Mill saw it as a disadvantage because when people are not allowed to say how they feel no progress would be accomplished.