John Stuart Mill - Should drugs be legalized? An essay concerning the libertarian thoughts of John Stuart Mill in 'On liberty'

Ensayo , 2002 , 7 Páginas , Calificación: 1,3 (A)

Filosofía - Filosofía del siglo XIX

The usage of substances which have an effect on biological processes inside the body were always a part of the human culture. They can be used to cure diseases such in the case of aspirin and on the other hand they are used for recreational purposes such as alcohol. This essay will concentrate on the latter practice which is facing a lot of debates and criticism. Whilst it is pretty common amongst native tribes to make use of this kind of drugs, in civilized countries you will find nearly everywhere paternalistic regulations in the case of non-accepted drugs, which is often a “Zero-Tolerance” policy such in Asia and the USA. On the other hand, socially accepted drugs like alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and prescriptive drugs such as Prozak are part of the daily life.

As we can see, the policy according to recreational drugs is inconsistent, mixing arguments of a liberal and paternalistic approach. In arguments against this historically based segregated treatment of recreational drugs, you will often find the thoughts of the nineteenth century philosopher John Stuart Mill concerning “Civil or Social Liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised over the individual ”. The argument for the legalization of drugs often bases on "harm-principle", the decisive scheme of his work, trying to combine Utilitarianism and Liberalism. In his view, giving priority to liberty over other goods and even over the claims of general welfare will on the long run best promote general welfare.

Hence, the following work examines on 5 pages whether drugs interfere with the interest of others or better saying whether they are harming them in the light of Mill's concept.

Table of Contents

• Should drug use be legalized?
• An essay concerning the libertarian thoughts of John Stuart Mill in "On Liberty"
• The usage of substances which have an effect on biological processes inside the body were always a part of the human culture.
• In order to reason for a prohibition of drugs, one could claim the pernicious effects of drug usage which is indeed harming others directly.
• In addition to a direct damage, we could harm others indirectly by not using our capacities or giving a bad example.
• If we cannot justify a prohibition of consume of drugs, what could we do against likely negative repercussions?
• As we can see, there is no interference of the legalization of drugs with Mill's concept of social liberty.

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay aims to examine John Stuart Mill's libertarian philosophy, particularly his “harm principle” as outlined in his seminal work "On Liberty," and its implications for the legalization of drug use. The author explores the complexities of balancing individual liberty with societal concerns regarding the potential harm of drug usage.

• The Harm Principle and its application to drug use
• The limits of individual liberty in relation to potential harm to others
• The concept of personal responsibility and its implications for drug use
• The potential impact of drug use on society and individual well-being
• The evolution of drug use and its relationship to Mill's concept of individual liberty

Chapter Summaries

• The essay begins by introducing the historical context of drug use and its varied applications, highlighting the contrasting approaches to regulating drug use in different societies.
• The author then introduces Mill's “harm principle” as a cornerstone of his libertarian philosophy, explaining its relevance to the debate on drug legalization.
• The author delves into the potential arguments for prohibiting drug use, emphasizing the potential harm caused by drug-induced intoxication, which could lead to harm to others. However, the essay explores how Mill's concept differentiates between direct harm and potential harm, highlighting the difficulty of justifying governmental coercion solely based on the possibility of harm.
• The essay further examines the potential arguments for prohibiting drug use based on indirect harm, such as the loss of individual productivity or the negative influence on others. However, the author refutes these arguments, concluding that Mill’s concept of personal liberty permits individuals to make choices, even if those choices are perceived as detrimental.
• The essay explores the role of parental responsibility in relation to drug use, highlighting the exceptions to Mill's harm principle when it comes to children, who require protection from their own actions.
• Despite concluding that Mill's philosophy would support the legalization of drugs, the essay raises concerns regarding the potential impact of addiction on individual autonomy and the evolution of drug use since Mill's time. It questions whether Mill's principles remain relevant in the context of modern drug use, which can have strong physical and psychological dependencies.

Keywords

This essay delves into key concepts surrounding individual liberty, societal responsibility, and the legalization of drug use. The focus lies on John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty," specifically his "harm principle" and its application to contemporary debates. The essay explores the relationship between personal freedom, potential harm to others, and the limits of governmental intervention. Important themes include individual autonomy, societal consequences, and the evolution of drug use in relation to Mill's philosophy.

• Universidad: University of Bayreuth (Philosophy Faculty)
• Curso: Mill - On liberty
• Calificación: 1,3 (A)
• Autor: Mirko Gropp (Autor)
• Año de publicación: 2002
• Páginas: 7
• No. de catálogo: V6054
• ISBN (Ebook): 9783638137379
• Idioma: Inglés
• Etiqueta: Mill, Drugs, Legalization, Legalisation, On liberty