Pronouns, Free Speech and the Harm Principle!
In this essay, I will first provide an exegesis of Mill’s harm principle then argue in favor of it by showing how existing laws that compel people to use certain speech violate this principle and infringe on rights and liberties that are essential to optimizing the utility of persons. Mill argues that government intervention is only permissible over persons to prevent direct or indirect harm to others. Any other intervention will infringe on the utility of the individual. Mill argues that utilitarianism is the “ultimate appeal on all ethical questions” and the utility of people is maximized when they act and think as they want without coercion because it is in our nature as humans to act and think independently (Mill 1859, 14). This principle that justifies governmental intervention is called Mill’s harm principle. Several terms within Mill’s description of… Read More »Pronouns, Free Speech and the Harm Principle!