Question

John Stuart Mill: Ethics

picture of MillThe ethical theory of John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) is most extensively articulated in his classical text Utilitarianism (1861). Its goal is to justify the utilitarian principle as the foundation of morals. This principle says actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote overall human happiness. So, Mill focuses on consequences of actions and not on rights nor ethical sentiments.

This article primarily examines the central ideas of his text Utilitarianism, but the article’s last two sections are devoted to Mill’s views on the freedom of the will and the justification of punishment, which are found in System of Logic (1843) and Examination of Sir William Hamilton’s Philosophy (1865), respectively.

Educated by his father James Mill who was a close friend to Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill came in contact with utilitarian thought at a very early stage of his life. In his Autobiography he claims to have introduced the word "utilitarian" into the English language when he was sixteen. Mill remained a utilitarian throughout his life. Beginning in the 1830s he became increasingly critical of what he calls Bentham’s "theory of human nature". The two articles "Remarks on Bentham’s Philosophy" (1833) and "Bentham" (1838) are his first important contributions to the development of utilitarian thought. Mill rejects Bentham’s view that humans are unrelentingly driven by narrow self-interest. He believed that a "desire of perfection" and sympathy for fellow human beings belong to human nature. One of the central tenets of Mill’s political outlook is that, not only the rules of society, but also people themselves are capable of improvement.

What are Mills two social obligations and rights?

Answer 1

Mill's two social obligations are to act to promote the greatest happiness and to avoid causing harm to others, which correspond to the rights to individual freedom and societal protection.

Step-by-step explanation:

John Stuart Mill's two social obligations and rights can be understood in the context of his utilitarian philosophy and the harm principle. Firstly, within a utilitarian framework, individuals must act in ways that promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number. This includes personal decisions as well as social and political conduct. Secondly, according to Mill's harm principle, individuals have the right to freedom of action unless their actions cause harm to others. Hence, society has a corresponding obligation to not interfere with an individual's liberty except to prevent harm to others. These principles reflect Mill's commitment to individual liberty and social progress.