Similarities Between Mills And Judith Shklar

Katerina Siroruka Liberal thinkers are suspicious of state power and argue that the state needs to be limited. John Stuart Mill and Judith Shklar understand state power differently, to the extent in which may be harmful in the method and purpose of limitation. Mill believed that rulers are potential tyrants and that the citizens should be protected against a tyranny government. Shklar believed that the state should be protected against the abusive, cruel and evil powers that can be done its citizens, thus forming her theory Liberalism of Fear. Both of the thinkers also believed that limitations are needed against the state if the government and government officials try to interfere with citizens in unjust ways. Shklar compared
Shklar formed her theory the Liberalism of fear, which is a protection of the citizens against the abusive cruelty done by the state and state officials (Judith Shklar, The liberalism of Fear page 27). The state’s duty is to make sure that the people’s rights are recognized (Shklar Judith, page 21). The state according to Shklar should adopt to equal rules and legal protection for its citizens, not be based on fundamental rights or empowerments of citizens; citizens must be protected at all times (Judith Shklar, page 37). In political history, some state officials abused their powers toward the poor and the weak, for their own personal pleasure (Judith Shklar, page 28). According to Shklar politics should be fair rules and decisions that are made to satisfy the maximum needs that are made by the citizens and should be against an abusive state (Judith N Shklar, page 26). Certain limitations needed to be placed against the secret, unlawful, and unauthorized acts done by the state (Judith, Shklar page 31). If the state abuses and causes unnecessary fear then the citizens are allowed to act individually or in groups by protesting against the government and can block state intervention (Judith, Shklar page 33). The Bill of Rights is an important limitation because the citizens have a freedom of speech. Shklar, however, is not opposed to state intervention
Liberalism shouldn’t interfere with what self is and it should take account of actual political conditions in which people live by, act by, and prevent danger if interfered with human freedom (Judith, Shklar page 36). Shklar compared Liberalism of Fear with John Locke and criticizes Locke by stating that “Governments of this world with their overwhelming power to kill, maim, indoctrinate, and war is not to be trusted completely, any confidence that we might develop in government rests on deep suspicion”, Shklar, however, disagrees with Locke because she states “Locke and his heirs should not favor the weak government that cannot frame and carry out public policies, decisions, publicity, deliberation, and fair procedures” (Judith Shklar page