GOVT-105 FA2 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3, 4: Reprobation, On Liberty
9 Apr 2017
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Govt-105 - textbook note - mill, on liberty ch 3, 4. People should be free to act upon their opinions without physical or moral hindrance as long as it at their own risk. Acts that cause harm to others should be controlled. People shouldn"t simply copy others but they also shouldn"t ignore the results of human experience. They should be free to interpret that knowledge. Human faculties such as perception, judgement, and moral preference are only exercised by making choices. In early society there was often too much individuality. Now there is a danger of individuality being stifled. Humans become more perfect by cultivating what is individual. Even despotism is less bad when individuality exists. People who are the most individual are likely to advance human understanding. Democratization has made people prefer mediocrity over genius. When the opinions of the masses become the dominant power, individuality is the only counterweight. There is no one way to live the best life.
