To: average joe who wrote (56050 ) 10/8/2009 2:59:17 AM From: Maurice Winn 2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) | Respond to Utilitarianism. It's all very interesting. I noticed a little comment TJ made some posts ago about appreciating the efforts of people gone by when one draws water from a well. He made comment long ago about his father's [my words] attitude to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Being self actualizing in a simplistic self-indulgent sense is all very well, but working for free to do things for the greater good is even more enjoyable. I forget the exact idea but that's how I took it. “The greatest good for the greatest number” is one of the most vicious slogans ever foisted on humanity. >The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion. 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. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right. These are good reasons for remonstrating with him, or reasoning with him, or persuading him, or entreating him, but not for compelling him, or visiting him with any evil, in case he do otherwise. To justify that, the conduct from which it is desired to deter him must be calculated to produce evil to some one else. The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign. >
