Introduction
This essay examines the philosophy of John Stuart Mill, especially his ideas on social justice. He was convinced that personal freedom is an essential factor in the common good of society. However, uncontrolled and unrestricted freedom can lead to harm to society.
Mill saw the ideal approach in the philosophy of utilitarianism, where every action is right if it leads to the community’s well-being. His ideas about justice are still relevant today because addressing contemporary social issues requires finding a balance for the common good. By balancing conflicting interests, individuals and institutions can achieve general welfare and make just decisions.
Mill’s Vision of Justice and the Role of Utilitarianism
Mill thought that everyone has the right to the most significant manifestation of personal freedom as long as it does not harm anyone. Considering Mill’s vision of justice, it is worth noting that he saw the ideal model in utilitarianism. In his opinion, actions are morally correct if they lead to well-being.
According to his idea, the goal of justice is to ensure the happiness not only of individuals but also of humanity as a whole. Thus, this model can be considered as a decision-making algorithm. Moreover, it can be helpful in personal matters, business, or politics, where every decision requires considering many factors.
However, he did not promote absolute, unfettered freedom as the best possible course of events. Instead, personal freedom has value and is practical only when adequately controlled. Therefore, despite placing individual liberty at a high level, Mill was convinced that the state could interfere with personal freedom if it would help avoid public harm (McCabe, 2020). In contrast, society cannot prevent individuals from achieving happiness. Consequently, Mill’s philosophy involves a balance between individual freedom and the common good of society to ensure justice.
Utility and General Welfare
Mill emphasizes the importance of considering the utility issue in determining the meaning and role of justice. In his book Utilitarianism, he claims that “a perfectly just conception of Utility or Happiness, considered as the directive rule of human conduct” (Mill, 1863, p. 15). He believes utility is the guiding rule in human actions and relationships. According to Mill, actions must promote or indirectly contribute to the common good (Chaffee, 2009). Therefore, the correctness of an action is evaluated given its social benefit and lack of harm.
This approach provides significant insight into establishing norms of human behavior in society. When committing any, assessing the possible consequences or potential harm to society is necessary. Regardless of the scope of the issue, it is necessary to consider the possible consequences for all parties involved, the decision’s direct or indirect impact, and the public good’s role in this matter. This philosophy is similar to Buddhism, which focuses on the collective good (Kumar, 2020). Therefore, the question raised before testifies to the expediency and relevance of this idea in the introduction of stable and mutually beneficial relations.
The Importance of Balance in Mill’s Utilitarian Approach
This view of social relations implies a balance of interests, as advantages for some may have negative consequences for others. Mill states that “the ultimate end, concerning and for the sake of which all other things are desirable (whether we are considering our good or that of other people), is an existence exempt as far as possible from pain, and as rich as possible in enjoyments” (Mill, 1863, p. 14). This quote emphasizes the importance of balancing individual and collective good. For example, introducing a tax collected from the wealthy population and redirected to help low-income families can be considered a utility. However, it can also be seen as unfair to the wealthy.
The utilitarian approach implies a conflict of interests, so it is worth carefully considering its aspects. By adhering to utilitarianism and finding a balance between the individual and the collective, achieving a state of general well-being is possible. Mill’s philosophy emphasizes the importance of balance in social relations and determines the morality and correctness of societal actions. Accordingly, this idea is still relevant in today’s social order, as individuals and legislative institutions must constantly weigh the parties’ interests.
Mill’s Philosophy and Its Relevance to Contemporary Social Issues
Contemporary social issues resonate in Mill’s philosophy, especially concerning collective well-being. His vision of the balance between personal freedom and justice in society is especially relevant when considering the issue of civil liberties. Thus, his ideas about freedom are relevant to the issue of freedom of speech and can be used as arguments in solving situations with censorship or hate speech. In addition, his utilitarian model of justice can guide decisions regarding aspects of public policy (Wickenheiser, 2019). Mill’s philosophy generally resonates with contemporary social issues, as the idea of a balance between the individual’s happiness and society’s well-being is relevant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Stuart Mill’s philosophy emphasizes balancing freedom and control to achieve justice. Thus, he proposed the philosophy of utilitarianism as a guiding principle in social interactions. His philosophy provides essential insight into contemporary issues of society and people’s relationships with each other.
Therefore, each individual must consider the likely consequences and impact of the decision. In addition, his utilitarian model can be the basis for decision-making in public policy. Mill’s philosophy is still relevant today because citizens and governing bodies should continually consider the conflict of interests and weigh the arguments to find a balance and make the right decision.
References
Chaffee, J. (2009). The philosopher’s way: A text with readings: Thinking critically about profound ideas. Pearson.
Kumar, S. (2020). Relevance of Buddhist philosophy in modern management theory. Psychology and Education, 58(2), 2104-2111. [PDF document]. Web.
McCabe, H. (2021). John Stuart Mill: Market socialist?Review of Social Economy, 79(3), 506-527. Web.
Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Batoche Books.
Wickenheiser, R. A. (2019). A crosswalk from medical bioethics to Forensic Bioethics. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 1, 35-44. Web.