Single Idea 7223

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 5. Freedom of lifestyle]

Full Idea

A person being free to be a pimp, or to keep a gambling-house, lies on the exact boundary line between two principles, of toleration and of restraint.

Gist of Idea

Pimping and running a gambling-house are on the border between toleration and restraint

Source

John Stuart Mill (On Liberty [1857], Ch.5)

Book Reference

Mill,John Stuart: 'Utilitarianism (including On Liberty etc)', ed/tr. Warnock,Mary [Fontana 1962], p.232


A Reaction

Nothing illuminates a philosopher's principles more than for them to specify cases that lie on their borderlines. Both professions seem, unfortunately, to lead people into worse activities, such as violent bullying, or theft. Tricky..