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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 from 'On Liberty'

20517 Utilitarianism values liberty, but guides us on which ones we should have or not have [Mill, by Wolff,J]
20516 Mill defends freedom as increasing happiness, but maybe it is an intrinsic good [Wolff,J on Mill]
20515 Maximise happiness by an area of strict privacy, and an area of utilitarian interventions [Mill, by Wolff,J]
7211 Prevention of harm to others is the only justification for exercising power over people [Mill]
7213 Liberty arises at the point where people can freely and equally discuss things [Mill]
7215 True freedom is pursuing our own good, while not impeding others [Mill]
7212 Individuals have sovereignty over their own bodies and minds [Mill]
7214 Ethics rests on utility, which is the permanent progressive interests of people [Mill]
7210 The will of the people is that of the largest or most active part of the people [Mill]
7216 The ethics of the Gospel has been supplemented by barbarous Old Testament values [Mill]
7217 The main argument for freedom is that interference with it is usually misguided [Mill]
7231 The worth of a State, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it [Mill]
7229 People who transact their own business will also have the initiative to control their government [Mill]
7227 It is evil to give a government any more power than is necessary [Mill]
7230 Aim for the maximum dissemination of power consistent with efficiency [Mill]
7228 Individuals often do things better than governments [Mill]
7220 Restraint for its own sake is an evil [Mill]
7222 It is a crime for someone with a violent disposition to get drunk [Mill]
7218 Individuals are not accountable for actions which only concern themselves [Mill]
7221 Blocking entry to an unsafe bridge does not infringe liberty, since no one wants unsafe bridges [Mill]
7223 Pimping and running a gambling-house are on the border between toleration and restraint [Mill]
7219 Society can punish actions which it believes to be prejudicial to others [Mill]
7226 Benefits performed by individuals, not by government, help also to educate them [Mill]
7224 We need individual opinions and conduct, and State education is a means to prevent that [Mill]
7225 It is a crime to create a being who lacks the ordinary chances of a desirable existence [Mill]