Mill and Millians on Liberty and Moral Character

Autor:	Harry M. Clor
Rok vydání:	1985
Předmět:	Sociology and Political Science media_common.quotation_subject Freedom of choice Doctrine Environmental ethics Morality Argument Political Science and International Relations Happiness Ethnology Mill Sociology Autonomy media_common Moral character
Zdroj:	The Review of Politics. 47:3-26
ISSN:	1748-6858 0034-6705
DOI:	10.1017/s0034670500037724
Popis:	This essay critically explores the efforts of John Stuart Mill and contemporary Millian scholarship to provide a utilitarian justification for a categorical principle of personal liberty. What is distinctive about Mill's argument is its pronounced emphasis upon character development as an essential constituent of happiness; the heart of the argument is that freedom of choice promotes a kind of elevated or worthy human character upon which happiness ultimately depends. Hence, society must be prevented from imposing any conventional or customary morality which would restrict individual autonomy. This case for the sovereignty of personal autonomy is infected with a number of difficulties and ambiguities. Central among these are weighty problems associated with Mill's crucial concept of individuality and its relation to human excellence or nobility of character. The refinements upon Millian doctrine introduced by his current supporters do not, and cannot, resolve its inherent ambiguities.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::e4d4058ef6e4f5ce42d43ffe2353cdc1 https://doi.org/10.1017/s0034670500037724 Zobrazit plný text záznamu