On Liberty
“There are but few persons… whose experiments, if adopted by others, would be likely to be of any improvement on established practice. But these few are the salt of the earth; without them, human life would become a stagnant pool. Not only is it they who introduce good things which did not before exist; it is they who keep the life in those which already exist.” (252)
“The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.” (253)
“The initiation of all wise or noble things comes and must come from individuals.” (253)
""What crushes individuality is despotism” (251)
Experiments in living ⇒ praises for these people.
Liberty is limited by the requirements of Do no harm
Self-regarding actions vs. Other-regarding actions
Self: be as self, be as different Other: Do no harm
If something is not-moral: Then Moral is wrong
Utilitarianism: Individual’s expression
- not maximise pleasure
- but maximise progress of humanity
Harmonious development of humanity
Unlimited regards to actions to self-regarding actions, but not other-regarding actions.