Philosophy: John Stuart Mill's "harm principle" (1859): the state m…

Question

Did you know? John Stuart Mill's "harm principle" (1859): the state may only restrict someone's freedom to prevent harm to OTHERS — never to "protect" the individual from themselves. Smoking, gambling or suicide are therefore not matters for the law. A cornerstone of modern liberal democracies.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill's "harm principle" (1859): the state may only restrict someone's freedom to prevent harm to OTHERS — never to "protect" the individual from themselves. Smoking, gambling or suicide are therefore not matters for the law. A cornerstone of modern liberal democracies.

John Stuart Mills "schadebeginsel" (1859): de overheid mag iemands vrijheid alleen beperken om schade aan ANDEREN te voorkomen — nooit ter "bescherming" van het individu zelf. Roken, gokken of zelfmoord zijn dus geen zaken voor de wet. Een hoeksteen van moderne liberale democratieën.

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