This essay compares John Locke and John Stuart Mill’s moral theories. It will be shown how Locke is concerned with the consequences of actions whereas Mill focuses on intentions.
First, it will be argued that both make use of rules to determine if an act is right or wrong (1). Furthermore, the significance of consent in determining whether something is right or wrong will be considered (2). After that, the essay will discuss the differences between their theories. Finally, it will briefly assess both theories and show how they can be compared (3).
1: Right and Wrong
The first section of this essay focuses on what rules determine right and wrong for Locke and Mill.
Locke begins his second treatise by asserting that all men, as rational beings, should “be supposed to see clearly those Rights” (Locke 1689/1960: 3) which exist intrinsically in others. He goes on to explain that when someone has violated another’s rights there is a transgression against reason itself since no one “can transferre to another [their] power . . . over any thing” (Locke 1689/1960: 3). By this, Locke is saying that for any rule to be followed, it must come from someone’s own will. If no one consents to a rule then there can be no obligation to obey it. It is because people are rational beings that they recognize the consequences of their actions and know when they’ve infringed on another person’s rights.
The consequences of an act are what determine whether something is right or wrong for Mill (Mill 1861/1998: 21) . He argues that “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (Mill 1861/1998: 23). To determine what might promote greater happiness than others, Mill states that “every faculty, when acting according to its nature, produces its proper pleasure” (Mill 1861/1998: 26). The consequence of this is that happiness is the ultimate goal.
2: Consent
On a related note, it is important to realize that both philosophers believed in the importance of consent for determining what actions are right or wrong. To Locke, a person’s natural rights can be disposed of if they voluntarily give them away (Locke 1689/1960: 5) . This argument puts forward the idea that since someone has transferred their rights by choice then there was no transgression on another person’s natural rights. In his essay On Liberty Mill argues against paternalism and for individual liberty. However, he believes that an individual may be able to justify infringing on another person’s rights if it is in the interest of the individual themselves (Mill 1861/1998: 35-38) . This justification can only take place when there has been consent.
3: Comparison
A comparison between Locke and Mill shows that they have different approaches to how right or wrong are determined. Whereas Mill is focused on consequences, Locke is concerned with the source of a rule and whether or not someone consents to it. Because of this, Mill does not consider consent as much as Locke does. However, both believe that an individual’s natural rights must be respected and cannot be disposed without their consent. Furthermore, neither believes that other people should infringe upon those rights unless they have consented to it.
John Locke and John Stuart Mill were two philosophers who had very different attitudes towards society. They had opposing views on human nature and the way which people should be governed. However, there was one major theme that both of them agreed upon: that all men are by nature free and equal .
They also shared a similar perspective on social contract theory; Locke’s concept of representative government can be said to resemble the idea of using elections to ensure fair representation for all groups in society (John Stuart Mill).
Even though they share several opinions, there is no mistaking their unique outlooks on life; it becomes apparent after reading even a little of each philosopher’s work or biography.
Mill’s comparative essay on On encompasses his liberal view of freedom, as well as his interest in women’s rights. On the other hand, Locke’s treatise on education is a reflection of his belief that people should be educated as free citizens. They both shared the influence from John Milton, who wrote about freedom and education in his writings.
The two philosophers have very different approaches to human nature; Mill’s philosophy being based upon it being malleable and changeable while Locke sees humans as inherently bad and requiring a social contract for their own protection. The contrasting views on how society should work, show that there exists a divide between the ruling elite and the working class. Both believed that everyone was equal under law , but for this to be fair, it had to be through “consent.”
In John Locke’s philosophy of human nature, he did not agree with the Aristotelian idea that humans were born morally good. On the contrary, he thought that everyone was by nature evil and must be brought up to follow a religious life. In his work , Locke states “every man is presumed to do all things in order to provide for himself”. This would include following the word of God in providing for oneself and having children.
Although Mill rejected many of John Locke’s beliefs on religion, both agreed that there should be freedom in matters of religion and it should not be forced upon people (John Stuart Mill). John Locke believed in allowing people to worship as they pleased but any actions considered morally reprehensible such as murder or theft were punishable by the state.
In John Locke’s philosophy, he believed that people should have the freedom of speech and expression of thought as long as it is done without violent coercion. In John Stuart Mill’s book On Liberty , he proposes a theory which supports individual liberty including the freedom of speech and expression of thought. The facts that both philosophers agreed on this matter show that they were more similar than their political views would suggest.
The liberal concept of free market economics was a fundamental aspect in both philosophers’ view on how society ought to be run. In John Locke’s works, he had many ideas about economic policy but some key points include allowing banking systems to ensure fair competition between merchants and abolishing laws against usury (the practice of lending money at excessive rates of interest). John Stuart Mill also states that he believes in the freedom of people to buy and sell land and his support for free trade.
Both John Locke and John Stuart Mill supported representative government, which is a type of government where citizens vote for elected officials who represent their interests. This was heavily influenced by John Milton’s belief that it should be the duty of every citizen to take part in politics (John Milton). In On Liberty , Mill criticizes democracy because it does not guarantee equal representation; he argues that while under a democratic system everyone can theoretically have an equal say, power is still concentrated with the majority whose interests may only reflect one section of society.
