MCC-UE 1040 Lecture Notes - On Liberty, Harm Avoidance, Iron Lung
Document Summary
1902 smallpox epidemic in boston resulted in forced vaccinations. 4 residents resist and are arrested appeal to supreme court in 1904. Supreme court: 4 standards for legitimate exercise of police power for public health purposes. Supreme court case that ruled that compulsory sterilization was acceptable for the. That principle is that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number is self- protection . Power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others ie we can"t punish people for getting drunk, but we can punish people for drunk driving. There need be protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling; against the tendency of society to impose its own ideas and practices upon those who do not follow them .