2009 Fall Proseminar Collaborative Research Exercise

Instructions for Collaborative Research on Mill's "On Liberty"

We need to spend a little time experiencing and thinking about philosophical research. One of the best ways of doing this is from within an actual research exercise. This semester, I'd like to do this collectively on a question that happens to be pressing for something I'm working on related to Mill's On Liberty -- a grand text to be familiar with in any case.

Our research goals are:

1. To locate major commentators and "standard" interpretations of On Liberty, along with controversies of interpretation.

2. To sample the range of philosophical discussions relating specifically to "intellectual freedom" or "fredom of thought and discussion" within On Liberty

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We'll use a simple "findings" reporting system to facilitate the posting of research to this page.

Sample Finding Title

(For example, "Harms of Global Warming" or "General Book on Global Warming". Consider subtitles to give your finding some specificity)

Finding and Link (Citation in MLA format, with enduring link if possible, at least with as much publication information as you have.)

Summary/Reconstruction (Identify key ideas, reconstruct arguments and explanations, indicate the type of information you found -- research, news, background, editorial, etc. Pay particular attention to the point of view of the source or publication.)

Your Name

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Major Critics

Karl Popper, Popper's 1957 work, The Poverty of Historicism, pp. 118-119

(For example, "Harms of Global Warming" or "General Book on Global Warming". Consider subtitles to give your finding some specificity)

Finding and Link http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Mill.htm#fn2

Summary/Reconstruction Probably ought to locate Popper criticism here.

Alfino 02:27, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

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Reference List

application to genetic engineering

• Burley, Justine. Mill, Liberty, and (Genetic) 'Experiments in Living'. Mill's On Liberty: A Critical Guide: Mill's On Liberty: A Critical Guide. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Pr; 2008 Jan 1-.

Keywords: application to genetic engineering Notes: ISSN/ISBN: 9780521873567 Series: Cambridge Critical Guides. Cover Date: 2008. Source Information: Author: Ten, C L (ed) 185-208,. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 43-2. Subject: CLONING; GENETIC ENGINEERING; LIBERTY; MORALITY. Subject Person: MILL, JOHN STUART. Update Code: 20090727.

application to hate speech

• Brink, David O. Millian Principles, Freedom of Expression, and Hate Speech: Legal Theory [Journal Article]. Legal Theory. 2001 Jun 1-; 7(2):119-157; ISSN: 1352-3252.

Keywords: application to hate speech Notes: Cover Date: June 2001.Source Info: 7(2), 119-157. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 35-4. Subject: ETHICS; FREEDOM; HATE; LAWS; SPEECH. Subject Person: MILL. Update Code: 20090226. Abstract: The article approaches hate speech from a Millian perspective. This perspective justifies liberties of expression in terms of deliberative values that are essential to our being responsible agents, and this deliberative rationale explains important features of First Amendment jurisprudence. Insofar as hate speech retards, rather than advances, deliberative values, its regulation can be defended by appeal to the very same values that explain why content-specific censorship is normally impermissible. If so, hate speech regulation is a well motivated exception to the usual prohibition on content-specific censorship. This conclusion requires rethinking the Court's ruling in 'R. A. V. v. St. Paul'.

argument in On Liberty

• Finocchiaro, Maurice A. Mill's 'On Liberty' and Argumentation Theory. The Uses of Argument: Proceedings of a Conference at McMaster University, 18-21 May 2005: The Uses of Argument: Proceedings of a Conference at McMaster University, 18-21 May 2005. Hamilton: Media Production; 2005 Jan 1-.

Keywords: argument in On Liberty Notes: Cover Date: 2005. Source Information: Author: Hitchcock, David (ed) 89-98,. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 39-3. Subject: ARGUMENT; LIBERTY. Subject Person: MILL. Update Code: 20090226. Abstract: Chapter 2 of Mill's 'On Liberty' is reconstructed as a complex argument for freedom of discussion; it consists of three subarguments, each possessing illative and dialectical components. The illative component is this: freedom of discussion is desirable because (1) it enables us to determine whether an opinion is true, whereas its denial amounts to an assumption of infallibility; (2) it improves our understanding and appreciation of the supporting reasons of true opinions, and our understanding and appreciation of their practical or emotional meaning; (3) it enables us to understand and appreciate every side of the truth, given that opinions tend to be partly true and partly false and people tend to be one-sided. The dialectical component consists of replies to ten objections, five in the first subargument, three in the second, one in the third, and one general. An analysis of Mill's argument suggests that (a) it is a contribution to argumentation theory; (b) it advocates and practices a dialectical approach; (c) its reconstruction and analysis are a contribution to argumentation theory; and (d) it raises in a striking manner the issue of the relationship between epistemology and argumentation theory.

essays on On Liberty

• Dworkin, Gerald ed. Mill's On Liberty. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield; 1997 Jan 1-.

Keywords: essays on On Liberty Notes: Cover Date: 1997.. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 31-3. Subject: BIBLIOGRAPHY; EQUALITY; FAIRNESS; HARM; JUSTICE; LIBERTY; PATERNALISM; PORNOGRAPHY; SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY. Subject Person: MILL. Update Code: 20090226. Abstract: John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty' (1860) continues to shape modern Western conceptions of individual freedom. Designed with political philosophy and philosophy of law courses in mind, this collection of essays by leading Mill scholars is an ideal introduction to 'On Liberty'. Selected for their importance and accessibility, the essays make clear the continued relevance of Mill's work to contemporary struggles to protect individual rights without harming others. The collection is also useful for courses devoted to Mill at either the undergraduate or graduate level.

guides

• Scarre, Geoffrey. Mill's 'On Liberty': A Reader's Guide. New York: Continuum; 2007 Jan 1-.

Keywords: guides Notes: Cover Date: 2007.. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 41-4. Subject: EDUCATION; GOVERNMENT; INDIVIDUAL; LIBERTY; POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY; SOCIETY. Subject Person: MILL, JOHN STUART. Update Code: 20090226. Abstract: First published in 1859, John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty' has exerted an enormous influence on philosophical and political thought ever since. Mill, also famous for his writings on utilitarianism, argues that individual liberty is of paramount importance and that any infringements of it must be kept to an absolute minimum. Mill himself described his brief but brilliant book as asserting "one very simple principleGǪthat the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering in the liberty of any of their number, is self-protection." Of course, drawing out the implications of this principle has proved to be anything but simple, and the various interpretations of Mill's doctrine have spawned countless debates and mountains of secondary literature. Numerous moral and political theorists have drawn on Mill's work, including Berlin, Rawls and Raz, and his ideas remain as relevant as ever today. (publisher, edited)

• Ten, C L ed. Mill's 'On Liberty': A Critical Guide. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Pr; 2008 Jan 1-. (Cambridge Critical Guides.

Keywords: guides Notes: Series: Cambridge Critical Guides. Cover Date: 2008.. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 43-2. Subject: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION; INDIVIDUALITY; LIBERALISM; LIBERTY; MORALITY; POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. Subject Person: MILL, JOHN STUART. Update Code: 20090727. Abstract: John Stuart Mill's essay 'On Liberty', published in 1859, has had a powerful impact on philosophical and political debates ever since its first appearance. This volume of newly commissioned essays covers the whole range of problems raised in and by the essay, including the concept of liberty, the toleration of diversity, freedom of expression, the value of allowing "experiments in living," the basis of individual liberty, multiculturalism, and the claims of minority cultural groups. Mill's views have been fiercely contested, and they are at the center of many contemporary debates. The essays are by leading scholars, who systematically and eloquently explore Mill's views from various perspectives. (publisher)

librarianship

• Jones, Barbara M. Libraries, Access, and Intellectual Freedom: Journal of Information Ethics [Book Review]. Journal of Information Ethics. 2004 Mar 1-; 13(1):81; ISSN: 1061-9321.

Keywords: librarianship Notes: Reviewer: Hauptman, Robert. Cover Date: Spring 2004. 1999. Source Info: 13(1), 81. Journal Announcement: 39-1. Update Code: 20090226.

• OBOLER, ELI M. TO FREE THE MIND: LIBRARIES, TECHNOLOGY, AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM. LITTLETON: LIBRARIES; 1983 Jan 1-.

Keywords: librarianship Notes: Cover Date: 1983.. Language: ENGLISH. Journal Announcement: 18-4. Subject: CIVIL LIBERTY; INFORMATION; SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY; TECHNOLOGY. Update Code: 20090226. Abstract: THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE IMPACT OF THE REVOLUTION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON CIVIL LIBERTIES. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO PRIVACY, COPYRIGHT PROTECTION, GOVERNMENT POLICY, AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM. (STAFF)

problem in Mill's view of society

• Chaudhury, Mahasweta. Mill's Social Physics and Individual Liberty: The Programme and Its Problems: Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research [Journal Article]. Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research. 2004 Jan 1-; 21(1):1-27; ISSN: 0970-7794.

Keywords: problem in Mill's view of society Notes: Cover Date: January-March 2004.Source Info: 21(1), 1-27. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 40-2. Subject: LAWS; LIBERTY; POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY; SOCIETY. Subject Person: MILL, JOHN STUART; POPPER, KARL. Update Code: 20090226. Abstract: The aim of this paper is to identify the apparent contradiction in Mill's two different projects towards finding some explanatory laws of society in the fashion of physics as also the principle of individual liberty which, apparently, is a necessary condition for a civil society. The latter defies the naturalistic or mechanistic explanation of social change and human behavior. Mill tries to reconcile by a psychologistic explanation of human behavior, which again gives rise to many problems, as pointed out by the famous critique of Karl Popper. Here I attempt to analyze Mill's own viewpoint along with various other positions in order to show that psychologistic/naturalistic explanation can never be sufficient to explain rational human behavior. (edited)

problems in On Liberty

• Gordon, Jill. John Stuart Mill and the 'Marketplace of Ideas': Social Theory and Practice: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal of Social Philosophy [Journal Article]. Social Theory and Practice: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal of Social Philosophy. 1997 Jun 1-; 23(2):235-249; ISSN: 0037-802X.

Keywords: problems in On Liberty Notes: Cover Date: Summer 1997.Source Info: 23(2), 235-249. Language: English. Journal Announcement: 32-1. Subject: FREE SPEECH; IDEA; LIBERTY; MARKET; METAPHOR; SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY. Subject Person: MILL. Update Code: 20090226. Abstract: The expression "the marketplace of ideas" is often used in reference to Mill's views on freedom of thought and speech in 'On Liberty', but the metaphor does not come from Mill's work, nor is it consistent with his position. A real marketplace of ideas would create what Mill warns us against: the prevalence of the views of the most powerful and/or the most numerous. From a U.S. perspective, I explore Mill's suggestion to "countenance and encourage" minority views, and I compare Mill's particular type of liberalism with contemporary U.S. advocacy of market models for our political lives.

"J.S. Mill's Doctrine of Freedom of Expression"

Jonathan Riley claims that Mill defends a broad laissez-faire policy for expression. There are, however, exceptions to this policy; freedom of speech can be suppressed if it violates the harm principle. [[1]]

Riley, Jonathan "J. S. Mill's Doctrine of Freedom of Expression." Utilitas: A Journal of Utilitarian Studies 17.2 (2005): 147- 179. Philosopher's Index. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2009.

Twilkinson 21:57, 7 November 2009 (UTC)

Some local books

 

J.S. Mill's political thought :a bicentennial reassessment

Publisher: Cambridge ;New York :Cambridge University Press,2007.

Location: Foley General Collection

Call Number: JC223.M66J646 2007

Rereading power and freedom in J.S. Mill

Author: Baum, Bruce David,

Publisher: Toronto ;Buffalo :University of Toronto Press,c2000.

Location: Foley General Collection

Call Number: JC585.B268 2000

Location: Chastek 3rd Floor

Call Number: JC585.B385 2000  

John Stuart Mill on liberty and control

Author: Hamburger, Joseph,

Publisher: Princeton, N.J. :Princeton University Press,c1999.

Location: Foley General Collection Call Number: JC223.M66H363 1999    

The hidden text of Mill's Liberty

Author: Justman, Stewart.

Publisher: Savage, Md. :Rowman & Littlefield,c1991.

Location: Foley General Collection

Call Number: JC585.M75J87 1990