A Critical Interpretation of Mill's Human Freedom

By Sir Dr. Christopher Chude

This critical interpretation of Mills idea of Human Freedom is Socio-Political Philosophy, help to confirm that Mills argument lacks an adequate Metaphysical treatment and has no good inquiry about Human person he intend to protect. He I held-

“Mills conception could be taken as a heap of atoms linked together by private interest.”

Then on the whole, this critical argument carried out is of great value, modern and serve as an eye opener to all. Our Freedom should not be absolute but gentle and under the Control of Law for Common good. Honestly our liberty (freedom) in question must be true and genuine built on Moral reality of Justice and love. This as I noted (Morality) in US sustain Politics in individual and social compartments.
Presently Sir Dr. Chude is carrying out a research work - Social Problems in the third world nation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798369406434

Book preview

A Critical

Interpretation of Mill’s

Human Freedom

Sir Dr. Christopher Chude

Copyright © 2023 by Sir Dr. Christopher Chude.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 10/11/2023

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Good evening to you my able learned comrades. I and my family welcome your presence to honour the launching of this book.

A critical interpretation of the idea of human freedom in J.S. Mill Political theory.

Here my approach to this topic in Socio-Political Philosophy is to let the cat out of the bottle. But in general, for one to understand any form of Philosophy as I applied in this work, it will be necessary to understand what questions were stirring in the mind of the people to whom the Philosopher is directing the answers. This is true since the chief function of philosophy is to freeman’s mind from bias, prejudice and also to enlighten the perceptions of the people. Also, Political Philosophy in its true sense helps describe the past and the present organizations.

Here our Political Philosophers relies more on deduction as its primary appeal to reason and not much interested on how men behave in politics. Then the study must include the analysis of government and its working agents closely related to history, economics, and ethics. This is true since the politics in question are conditioned by ethics and the right of the individual citizen. Here the idea is necessarily an indispensable condition for the development and need to fit the individual for the task of his citizenship. Truly the legal content of this differs from one country to another. Also Mill see our religion as an instrument for progress in an emergent ethical evolution. He warned that our religion is true if it is useful to society since belief maybe at times be harmful. Here Mill needs to know that our religion is an encounter with the sacred and the infinite but cannot be made an object of curiosity or subject to reasons. Then religion is true since it places man and all that is temporal under the judgment of God and the external. Hence it cannot be brought before the tribunal of reasons but can be Philosophically explained and critically evaluated.

Here Mills’ approach to Religion with regards to freedom would have been more specific to a form of religion and its usefulness in relationship to God and man. Mill failed to understand that religious knowledge cannot be based on natural evidence but on revealed knowledge. Then I warn, Mill had no good knowledge of Metaphysics, and his conception of things never allowed him to appreciate religion in its social dimensions. Therefore, his conception of society in a true sense lacks philosophical foundation and could be taken as a heap of atoms linked up by private interest. This is true as Mill held that man’s action could be punishable only where the consequence falls on another. Here his view shows that our liberty must be absolute for no one should interfere with the liberty of the individual. But for the sociological nominal, this liberty is a condition to be free to act as one pleases. Here this form of liberty is self-autonomy, a state of being free to choose between our alternatives with the implication of wisdom and voluntary restraints that should be independent of any external interference. To the American Negros freedom mean to live outside the ghettoes and one to enjoy affluent life in modern America. Also, in other parts of the world, civil rights groups freedom is equal right and equal say to all. But honestly our liberty will be true and genuine if built on moral reality if justice and love. This is true since morality in us sustains politics in individual and social compartments in the private and public life of the people. It also deals with rightness or pureness of our behavior in an action to the society for the sake of peace to live co-operatively in group. Here Mill sees our action to be punishable where the consequence falls on another. But I disagree with his self-regarding action (proposals) since he fails to understand that freedom without control leads to license in action.

Finally, I note that good leaders need to follow the intellectual virtues of prudence in their action, which is the main basis of our social order. Also, according to St. Thomas Aquinas man’s action could be taken to be right only if it proceeds with the order of reason and of the eternal law. Here I warned that Mills idea was stymid up by the growing act his proposals for absolute freedom in the society. This is true since our leaders in socio-political field must be a prudent man. One having intellectual knowledge to access situations and be able to make good use of practical reasoning to process their actions.

Honestly this was lacking in John Stuart Mills that gave tighter to individuals in society. Also, his materialistic concept of things prevents him from appreciating religion in its social dimensions. Then Mills’ approach to freedom looks dangerous to developing society and needs control for the good of all. Here our freedom can only be maintained under a government devoted to justice.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Comments

Abbreviations

Introduction

PART ONE: LIFE AND MORAL

FOUNDATIONS IN MILL

Chapter I: Life And Works Of John Stuart Mill

A. Different Periods In Mill’s Life

1. Early Period Of Life

a.   Childhood, Travel and Education

b.   Some Observations

2. Time Of Maturity

a.   Young radical and early crisis

b.   Popularity and marriage

3. Mill’s Later Period Of Life

B. Origin Of Mill’s Idea On Human Freedom

C. Summary

Chapter II: Moral In Mill’s Philosophical Thought

A. Pre-Amble

1. Introduction

2. Idea Of Utilitariansim In Mill’s Philosophical Theory

B. Quality & Human Dignity

1. Social Sacrifice

2. Mill On Morality

C. Obligations To Observe The Principle

1. Sanctions

2. Justice And Social Utility

a.   Justice

b.   Principles of Utility as Social Principle

3. Punishment

4. Education Of Public

D. Summary

PART TWO: HUMAN FREEDOMIN IN

MILL’S SOCIO-POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Chapter III: Freedom In Mill’s Political Theory

A. Theoretical Perspectives

1. Politics

2. The Pedagogy Of Freedom

3. Human Freedom In Democratic Society

B. Development Of Mill’s Political Theory Of Civil Rights

C. Mill’s Political View On Liberty

1. Means To Search For Truth

2. Individuality And Need For Diversity

3. Regarding Actions And Interference

a.   Self-Regarding Conduct

b.   Other –regarding Actions

c.   Principles of Interference

d.   Limits Of Interference

D. Summary

Chapter IV: Mill On Religious Freedom

A. Mill’s Theory On Religion And Its Influences On Society

1. Mill’s Influence And Contributions To Religion

a.   God’s Existence And Attributes

b.   Some Attributes Of God

c.   Summary

B. Facts On Liberty

1. Preventions For True Opinion And Other Opinions

2. Mill On Self-Development And Interference

C. Critical Review On Approach

D. Summary

Chapter V: Critical Evaluation And Final Conclusion

A. Evaluation Of Mill’ Doctrine

1. Some Observations In Mill’s Political Theory

2. Comment From Contemporary Philosophers On Mill

3. Evaluative Conclusion

4. Critique

B. Social Order Accoring To St Thomas

Final Conclusion

Bibliography

Curriculum Vitae

Endnotes

DEDICATION

In Memory of my beloved Junior brother Eng – Fidelis Arinze Chude (known as Uwa – nka sef) and those that lost their life in Struggle for freedom.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Special thanks to Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of perpetual help for all the success in my life.

Also, thanks to my beloved wife Makuachukwu Lady Angie Chude Msc Psychology of Education DBA (AFRICAN AMERICAN Boutique, CA, USA. a mother, who in her personal ability, to tolerate and encourage a Philosophizing husband tends to amaze me. Finally, thanks to my lovely God ---------à given children and relatives for their prayers, co-operation that help to crown my success.

COMMENTS

This Critical interpretation in Socio-Political Philosophy by the author Chude greatly help to confirm that Mills’ argument lacks adequate Metaphysical treatment. I also agree that Mill has no good inquiry about the human person he intends in his work to protect. This is true since that which is morally wrong will never be Politically right. Then our Politics as the author of this book warn is conditioned by ethics and the rights of the individual citizen that can only be defined in moral contest. Also the philosophy of religion in true sense is concerned with clarifying the basic religious idea as the concept of God probing the grounds on religious knowledge. Then our religion will be seen as an encounter with the sacred and the infinite. I agree with the author that Mill failed to understand that religious knowledge cannot be based on natural evidence but revealed knowledge.

Pastor Steve C.

Here in my own opinion as exposed by the author of this book, I agree that the chance of adopting Mills theory in developing country is null. This is true since absolute freedom is license to action as Chude warned. Then our human freedom must show good reflection to human tendency values and goals in life. Also Mills freedom coincides with the absence of legislation. To achieve his aim Mill gave more importance to social questions and its relationship with Politics.

Dr. Anthony C. Oguno, (Italy)

ABBREVIATIONS

INTRODUCTION

CHOICE OF TOPIC

As most people go about their research for a number of reasons, others engage in it to satisfy their curiosity, while others try to create a certain impression. But in my own case, the idea came up from my personal conviction many years ago, for an urgent need to ease the rising problems and worries in the third world nations for true freedom that will be equally enjoyed by all regardless of color or status in life.

From all this, I then addressed myself to the difficult task of accomplishing this ambition through an important project for present-day society.

Although much praiseworthy research works has been carried out on John Stuart Mill’s philosophical ideas by historians, Economists and Philosophers, none of them so far have ever tried to enlighten the public on Mill’s idea on