SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: Department Of Philosophy

CONTRIBUTORS:

Okoroafor, J;
Dukor, M;

ABSTRACT:

Mill’s concern in his theory was the preservation of individual liberty within a democratic society as an intrinsic good in itself. This work will be a critical analysis of how his political teachings brought benefits to the society. The method to be used in this work is that of a critical analysis. This will help the researcher to x-ray Mill’s stand on individual liberty, to expose the denigration of individual liberty in a society and how Mill’s concept of individual liberty can be used to remedy the situation. In order to solve the problem of individual liberty, Mill looked down on majority tyranny and mass mediocrity as a potent threat to individuality and liberty. He therefore set limits to legitimate interference by society in areas that strictly and exclusively belong to the individual. Thus, he made his famous dictum “I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to death your right to say it.” His theory succeeded in liberating individuals from the shackles and chains of despotism. He has left for humanity an everlasting legacy for a better means of governance. Mill reminds the government that the society and individual flourish well in an atmosphere of liberty. For Mill, liberty was good in itself, for it helps in the development of a humane, civilized, moral person. The event of things today in society reveals a situation of serious denigration of individual liberty. There are oppressions and suppressions, perhaps in every nook and cranny of our daily experiences. People have been imprisoned without trial; the press has been so pitiably muzzled that it is very hard to get any reliable information from the mass media. Everything seems to be at a standstill. The political, economic, religious, educational and family sectors are all in shambles. In fact, the situation of the global world is a good clear picture of where liberty is been trampled upon. There is a death of liberty in our world today. Individuals are manipulated and not allowed to develop themselves. Based on the above assertions, this work will be facing the problem of analyzing the work of John Stuart Mill on individual liberty and its implication on politics, economy, religion, education and gender equality.