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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 4 page essay that examines what John Stuart Mill meant in his essay "On Liberty," when he said that the liberty he espoused was not meant for societies in their "nonage," that is societies that were immature. The writer examines how this position applies to Mill's argument in the first two chapters of "On Liberty" and argues that this position has no place in them modern world. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khnonage.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Utilitarian principles that he helped to propagate. In this introduction, Mill qualifies his argument by stating that his stance on liberty is not meant to apply to "backward states
of society in which the race itself may be considered in its nonage" (1999). Mill draws an analogy between such states and adolescents. He argues that just as states
rightfully establish laws that protect individuals who have not reached the age of maturity, there are also states that fall into this category and that the "early difficulties" of a
society are so great that any steps that a ruler takes into accomplish societal progress is justifiable. Mill writes that "Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with
barbarians" and that "Liberty...has no application" prior to the point in a societys development when it becomes capable of being "improved by free and equal discussion" (1999). From
a modern perspective, this stance seems unnecessarily harsh, as it justifies the subjugation of so-called "primitive" societies. One can easily see how such a philosophy could be used as a
rationalization for the colonialism of the British Empire during the nineteenth century. Furthermore, even if one accepts Mills viewpoint, then the next step involves deciding on what criteria to judge
a society as being "mature" enough for liberty. The principal point of Mills essay is-- in reference to Western societies-- is that the only time when a government or
society can justifiably interfere with individual liberty is for self-protection. Mill argues that this stance is Utilitarian in that he sees personal liberty as ultimately being beneficial for society as
a whole. The following examination of Mills essay, as he develops his arguments in chapters 2 and 3, focuses on how these arguments would or would not relate to a
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