PHIL 115 Lecture Notes - Indecent Exposure, Unemployment Benefits, Social Alienation
15 Apr 2013
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John stuart mill: on liberty & the subjection of women. The following are some key terms in mill"s political philosophy: foundationalism, liberalism, utilitarianism. He is a heavy supporter of utilitarian morality, which is a moral theory to replace kantian ethics. Unlike kant, mill believes in the moral significance of consequences. He recognizes a need to put moral weight on consequences instead of intent. He uses utilitarian morality to do this: an action is good if it brings about the most happiness for the most people and smallest amount of human suffering (net utility). Mill takes this moral theory and applies it to politics, leading to a liberal democracy. Note that liberalism goes back to the 17th and 18th centuries (was not invented by mill) and also that when philosophical doctrines are applied, they tend to be very loose translations. Thomas hobbes sort of started liberalism, but did not endorse a liberal society. Jean-jacques rousseau justified a somewhat different liberal philosophy.
