Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, Wilhelm Von Humboldt
11 Oct 2016
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The action in question harms interests that ought to be considered as rights. Not all interests should be considered as rights. We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal. (says the guy who owned hundreds of slaves) The idea that there are rights handed down and already respected. Problem: if we believe that the rights we have are the rights we deserve, there is then no basis to criticize them. Rights protect interests that are sufficiently important to put others under a duty. Ex. the right to life means everyone has a duty not to kill you. Choose the system of rights that maximizes utility of happiness. This approach can justify a set of rights to liberty, security, and property. It can be good or bad, depending on how you use it. A utilitarian theory of rights need not be a liberal theory. The permanent interests of man as a progressive being.
