Paternalistic Means for Antipaternalistic Ends: State Intervention and Societal Non-Interference in John Stuart Mill Cover Image

Paternalistička sredstva za antipaternalističke ciljeve: državna intervencija i društveno nemešanje u delu Džona Stjuarta Mila
Paternalistic Means for Antipaternalistic Ends: State Intervention and Societal Non-Interference in John Stuart Mill

Author(s): Marko Simendić
Subject(s): Political Theory, Sociology
Published by: Sociološko naučno društvo Srbije
Keywords: John Stuart Mill; liberty; paternalism; public sphere

Summary/Abstract: In On Liberty John Stuart Mill defends individual liberty from any kind of interference that is not justified by self-protection. Paternalism, interfering in somebody’s liberty against his will in order to promote this person’s welfare, is forbidden by Mill’s „one very simple principle”. However, numerous examples in other Mill’s works show that the famous utilitarian not only supports, but also suggests various paternalistic policies. In this paper I aim to offer an interpretation by which Mill was not indifferent toward the subject of a paternalistic action, and that there is a noteworthy difference between governmental (political), social and individual paternalism. Mill accepts the first kind of paternalism and rejects the other two in On Liberty. Such an interpretation might somewhat relieve Mill’s political thought from the burden of incoherence.

  • Issue Year: 63/2021
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 554-569
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Serbian