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Single Idea 7211

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics ]

Full Idea

The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others; his own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant.

Gist of Idea

Prevention of harm to others is the only justification for exercising power over people

Source

John Stuart Mill (On Liberty [1857], Ch.1)

Book Ref

Mill,John Stuart: 'Utilitarianism (including On Liberty etc)', ed/tr. Warnock,Mary [Fontana 1962], p.135

A Reaction

This is the key idea in Mill's liberalism, though he goes on to offer some qualifications of this absolute prohibition. I don't disagree with this principle, but there may be a lot more indirect harm than we realise (eg. in allowing liberal sex or drugs).

The 25 ideas with the same theme [founding ideas of liberal politics]:

21064 A lawful civil state must embody freedom, equality and independence for its members [Kant]
7211 Prevention of harm to others is the only justification for exercising power over people [Mill]
23036 The good is identified by the capacities of its participants [Green,TH, by Muirhead]
22872 Liberals aim to allow individuals to realise their capacities [Dewey]
23170 Liberal opinions are tentative rather than dogmatic, and are always responsive to new evidence [Russell]
23172 Empiricist Liberalism is the only view for someone who favours scientific evidence and happiness [Russell]
23171 Empiricism is ethically superior, because dogmatism favours persecution and hatred [Russell]
23859 True democracy is the subordination of society to the individual [Weil]
23522 In an organised society all actions have some effect on other people [Hart,HLA]
15669 People endorse equality, universality and inclusiveness, just by their communicative practices [Habermas, by Finlayson]
21008 Liberalism does not need a comprehensive account of value [Nussbaum]
23390 In a liberal democracy all subjects of authority have a right to determine the authority [Kymlicka]
22862 Liberals take people as they are, and take their preferences to be their interests [Lukes]
22808 Liberalism is minimal government, or individual rights, or equality [Avineri/De-Shalit]
23081 Liberal basics are pluralism, freedom, rights, equality, and distributive justice - for autonomy [Kekes]
7593 Liberals focus on universal human freedom, natural rights, and tolerance [Scruton, by PG]
22261 Liberals say rights always come first, and justice is neutral on social values [Sandel]
21905 Liberal theory starts from the governed, not from the governor [May]
21117 Liberal citizens have a moral requirement to respect freedom and equality [Shorten]
22835 Liberals value freedom and equality, but the society itself must decide on its values [Charvet]
23128 The opposite of liberalism is dogmatism [Gopnik]
23142 People are fallible, so liberalism tries to distribute power [Gopnik]
23143 Liberals have tried very hard to build a conscience into their institutions [Gopnik]
22602 Over several centuries a set of eight main liberal values was established [Dunt]
24158 Liberalism wants separate powers, press freedom, independence and rule of law, and rights [Hutton]