Philosophy 353
Study questions: Mill, from "On Liberty"
1. Explain briefly the principle Mill develops governing
appropriate legal constraint on individual
liberty (the "harm principle").
2. Mill argues that some behavior, while not the appropriate
target of legal constraint,
is the
proper subject of moral
disapproval. On Mill's view, how is society justified, and not
justified, in responding to morally
offensive behavior?
3. Reflect on Mill's "harm principle." In what way does it
clash with our current system of law?
How might this conflict best be
addressed--are you inclined to think these examples show
problems with Mill's principle, or does
Mill's principle show problems with these laws?