UTM112H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: John Stuart Mill, Victorian Era, On Liberty
Document Summary
The context in which j. s. mill is writing is what he refers to as a masked society. Mill writes about a hopeless conformity which he sees around himself. In other words, he is saying that people are more or less conform-ants. Mill is making reference to the sti ing conformity that took place in victorian britain (1800s) Speaks a lot about traditions, customs, and conformity. For instance, someone that solely lives according to what their parents tell them to do or one who follows certain customs and traditions because of the mere fact that their parents hold that belief. According to mill-yes, we are free to act out our opinion. Do not primarily concern or harm others, individuality should be practiced. Individuality creates diversity (of opinion) which enriches all of us, cultivates the self, allows one to learn from other people based on their individual experience.
