John Stuart Mill on Classical Liberalism and Modern...

John Stuart Mill was a classical liberal thinker and believed, through the influence of his father, that man deserved to live a life that promoted the greatest amount of happiness with limited government intervention. Mill grew up with the belief that there was no God and therefore believed that man is born inherently good; government should be limited to allow individuals to make their own decisions from their inherently good instincts; economic freedom provided individuals with the protection of rights and promoted the ideology that Mill stood for most, Utilitarianism which highly influenced classical liberalism. The philosophy of John Stuart Mill has influenced mankind and classical liberalism throughout history. John Stuart Mill, a†¦show more content†¦He presumed that people had enough knowledge and discernment to make moral choices that they could live with. The individual and their personal reflection of right or wrong decided their moral standards. Mill also noted that people had a desire to be accepted by society and they have a fear of being disapproved. Mill believed government should intervene only when one individual may hurt another. People have the freedom to hold and express their own opinions, which would deny the government the ability to choose a majority over a minority. In this government their authority would be limited in its ability to intervene unless an individual was harming another. To think that because those who wield power in society wield in the end that of government, therefore it is of no use to attempt to influence the constitution of the government by acting on opinion, is to forget that opinion is itself one of the greatest active social forces. One person with a belief is a social power equal to ninety-nine who have only interests. Mill’s belief promotes that each individual’s opinion is important and therefore should be listened to by the government. The government would not be able to turn a blind eye to a minority; this is one of many influences on classical liberalism. In classical liberalism the government has limited say in the economy and ensures that everyone has the right to his or her freedom of opinion. AnShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Does Modern Liberalism Depart from Classical Liberalism1624 Words   |  7 PagesThe classical liberal ideology emerged as a result of the Enlightenment period, which brought about new philosophies, challenging the existing assumptions about the nature of humankind and society. Modern liberalism developed around 1870 as a result of both philosophical and practical changes, including mass industrialisation. Classical liberals argue that modern liberalism has broken the principles of doctrines central to liberal thought whilst modern liberals claim that t hey are simply adaptingRead MoreJohn Locke And John Stuart Mill1451 Words   |  6 Pagesarguments of classical liberals, such as John Locke and John Stuart Mill, serve to legitimate European imperialism and the dispossession of indigenous peoples? John Locke has been informally known as the grandfather of liberalism. Similarly, John Stuart Mill is regarded as one of the early pioneers of the philosophy of liberalism (Armitage, n.d.). However, both of these liberalists have also been known to openly support the concept of empiricism. While no fool can tell that empiricism and liberalism are directlyRead MoreLiberalism, The Political Philosophy On Ideas Of Equality And Liberty1573 Words   |  7 PagesLiberalism Liberalism is the political philosophy on ideas of equality and liberty. Liberalisms focus is on the general ideas of fair elections by the people, civil rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property. As with all things though, the way the idea of liberalism can viewed differ by each individual person and the trails they have gone through. Liberalism is no exception from this phenomenon and during the nineteenth Century there were many trails changingRead MoreFree Market and Freedom Essay612 Words   |  3 Pagesconsider it to be compatible with individual freedom. (Free Market: 2014) Classical liberals may agree with the objectives of free markets, as they emphasise the importance of individual freedom with limited control of the state. (Hagopian)The counter argument is that when the free market economy is fuelled by profit motives, it sacrifices some ethical and economic issues which can cause severe consequences. (Gerald Hanks: 2014) Modern Lib erals argue that although individual freedom is important, coercionRead MoreClassical Liberalism : Through The Ages1210 Words   |  5 PagesNortheastern University Prof. Florencia Gabriele 11/21/2015 Classical Liberalism – Through The Ages In order to evaluate both concepts of liberalism, we should take in to consideration their historical contexts. Because every political philosophy is the product of a certain time and circumstance and therefore has its limitation(s). Classical Liberalism, which is also known as traditional liberalism, laissez-faire liberalism, or simply liberalism all over the world is a doctrine that stresses the importanceRead MoreThe Mill s On Liberty Essay2249 Words   |  9 Pagesin Mill’s On Liberty On his well-known work, On Liberty, John Stuart Mill starts by clarifying that the subject of his essay is Civil or Social liberty: â€Å"the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual,† (Mill, 5). Though some would see this as evidence for Mill’s grasp of liberty as something that is primarily concerned by the absence of constraints, that is negative liberty, Mill also engages in arguments and discussions that point towardsRead MoreAnalysis of Liberalism and Democracy Essay1069 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Liberalism and Democracy Liberalism has an ambivalent relationship with democracy, as liberals are against collective power, but support political equality. In the nineteenth century liberals were often opposed to democracy as they saw it as a threat to individual rights - the people are not a single entity but rather a collection of individuals with different opinions and interests, and so it is impossible for every view and opinion to be respected. SinceRead MoreChapter 23 Ap Euro Online Quiz1177 Words   |  5 Pagesoutpouring of creative activity in the arts. | | | | | | B) | it contributed to all three of the modern political ideologies: conservatism, liberalism, and socialism. | | | | | | C) | it shattered the hold of religion and mysticism on the European mind. | | | | | | D) | it counterbalanced the rationality and discipline of the scientific world view in modern culture. | | | | | | | | 3 | CORRECT | | Edmund Burkes conservatism rejected rationallyRead More An Analysis of The Dominate Perspectives of International Political Economy1532 Words   |  7 Pages In the world of international political economy, three dominant perspectives have emerged over time. The differences and similarities between the realist/mercantilist, liberalism, and historical structuralism perspectives are significant. In this essay, I will compare and contrast these dominant perspectives. First, I will give a historical account of how each perspective originated. Then I will outline the actors involved in each perspective, explore those actors’ interests, and outline which ofRead MorePostmoderntiy: a Break from Modernity1903 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"break from†, â€Å"opposition to†, â€Å"difference to and from† and a response to†. Works of Karl Marx and John Stuart Mill; Friedrich Nietzsche and Michel Foucault will prove that there is break between Mo dernity and Postmodernity. Modernity Modernity refers to a way of life and state of mind that experience progressive economic and administrative rationalization on which this processes brought the modern capitalist-industrial state.(Gibbins Reimer, 1996, p. 10) The main process of modernity: industrialization