Thesis: Mill argues that it is in the best interest of society to promote individuality which ensures liberty over using authority to conform subjects to a particular type of person conducive to following orders.
Definitions
Liberty: Mill defines Liberty using three basic criteria developed on page 15.
1. An individual maintains the ability to freely think and feel on all subjects and may express their thoughts,
2. An individual maintains the ability to freely frame their own life according to their tastes and preferences regardless of public opinion, providing that their choices do not harm others.
3. An individual maintains the ability to freely unite with other free individuals, providing that the purpose of uniting is not the harm of others. Clearly, individual rights are closely tied to Liberty. Using this definition of Liberty, Mill links the protection of certain individual rights to Liberty.
Arguments
Argument 1: Opinions (pg. 22-23 & 43)
Promoting individuality leads to a multitude of opinions which creates a broad dialogue where opinions and discussed and refined until they become uncontested truths. Only by listening to all sides of an issue can one be wise and reach an uncontested truth. Mill furthers that “the well-being of mankind may almost be measured by the number and gravity of the truths which have reached the point of being uncontested.” The opinions and dialogue associated with individuality will therefore increase progress. It follows that maintaining individuality is in the best interest of society so that uncontested truths, and subsequently progress, may be increased.
Argument 2: Individuality builds character in a society (pg 59)
Mill argues that the expression of an individual’s desires and impulses define a person’s character. He further claims that “one whose desires and impulses are not his own, has no character, no more than a steam engine has character.” Society in turn benefits from strong characters. Mill argues that society needs people of strong characters in order to progress. Therefore, by preferring individuality, society builds character which helps
general welfare.
Argument 3: Individuality is required for the progression of society (pg. 62-63)Mill claims that “individuality is the same thing [as] development, and that it is only the cultivation of individuality which produces… well-developed human beings.” This is because the originality comes from individuals directing their own life which is needed for progress (like discovering new truths or challenge old truths.) As Mill contends, “genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom.” Without these geniuses, “human life would be a stagnant pool.” By linking it to progress, it is clear that society can effectively better itself through individuality.
Counter Arguments
There are two type of counter-arguments that are anticipated to our claim that society is better off to promote individuality. The first is that the role of society is not best spent focusing on
promoting liberty. The second is that individuality does not benefit society.
Counter-Argument 1: Role of Society is to use Authority to control subject Instead of how Mill defines the role of society as cultivating individualism, one might argue that the role of society is to use authority to coerce subjects. Past philosophers like Hobbes argued that it is best for subjects to be under a powerful sovereign. One may argue that the role of society is not to cultivate individuality, but rather use authority to suppress individuality for the best interest of society.
Counter-Argument 2: Calvinistic Theory (pg. 61)
Mill presents the case that one may argue that human nature is not good. In this case, society would only be hurting itself by trying to cultivate individuality. This falls in line with Calvinistic Theory that human’s main objective is to obey God’s command and that human nature is corrupt. This would mean that it would be detrimental for society to try to promote individuality since it impedes human’s main purpose.
Counter-Argument 3: Customs
Similar to the arguments presented by Tocqueville, one may argue that customs are an important part of maintaining a society. The type of individualism that Mill argues for diminishes the power of customs because it begs people to challenge customs with individual thought. People like Tocqueville may argue that individuality is bad because it diminishes the role customs.
Explanation:
