Liberalism John Stuart Mill 12 August 2014

Liberalism The word has been emerged from very old Latin word "liberals" that means freedom which represents the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Politically, liberalism is defined as a political theory founded on the natural freedom of human being with individual autonomy. An economic perspective, liberalism can be said an economic theory in favor of laissez-faire and the free market.

Cont’d Liberalism requires openness than closed society. It has basically following features: Political pluralism free, fair and periodic election constitutionalism and equality before the law; liberal democracy with right to petition elected officials for redress of grievances; due process; civil liberties; human rights; and Free trade and right to property elements of civil society outside the government

Mill’s Introduction John Stuart Mill was a great philosopher of 19th century. He was blind supporter of individual liberty/freedom. He was born in London on 1806 and dead on 1873.. He studied Roman law very deeply and worked for East India Company, when he was just 17 years.

Cont’d His important writings were: The System of Logic The Principles of Political Economy Utilitarianism Essay on Liberty The Considerations of Representative Government The Examination of Sir William Hamilton's Philosophy The Subjugation of Women

Mill's view on Liberty There was extending the responsibility of government and also transferring the government from authoritarian to democracy, when Mill's wrote his philosophy. In this ground, he wrote his pioneer book named LIBERTY. He analyzed about liberty very extensively. About his analysis on LIBERTY, Graham says "No knight ever followed the lady with great vigor with which Mill sought for liberty or thought in general"

Cont’d Mill says Thus, Sabine says: Minority group should also be protected. If majority suppressed to minority in the name of democracy, it cannot be said democracy in reality. Thus, he supported the system of proportional representation so that distribution of parliamentary seats might correspond closely to the votes cast by the people. Thus, Sabine says: "Argument of Mill"s Essay on Liberty went far beyond a merely utilitarian defended on liberty"

At the time of analyzing liberty, he says: Cont’d At the time of analyzing liberty, he says: "Liberty consists in doing what one desire. In other words, over his/her body or mind individual is sovereign." "If a stand, solitary against the world mankind has no right to silence him." "Intervention to be done by state should be limited in actual necessity."

Mill’s types of Liberty Freedom of thought and expression According to Mill, human being cannot develop their personality without freely exercise of liberty. The government may be evaluated on the basis of such liberty that provided to the people. He says, "If all mankind minus (-) one opinions and only one person were of contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person then if he had the power would be justified in silencing mankind"

Cont’d Freedom of action He has also divided the freedom of action into two parts: Self regarding action: Self affected activities should be allowed. Other regarding action: The liberty of the individual must be for limited, he must not make himself nuisance to the other people