On two ways to expand on the harm principle

In this article I survey the historical antecedents of what has been commonly referred to as John Stuart Mill´s Harm Principle and some of the ways in which the principle has been discussed in the work of recent analytic philosophers. Subsequently, in the article`s substantive core, I focus entirely on what Mill refers to as the “moral coercion of public opinion”. Here I address matters which I take to underexplored in the literature, namely some difficulties that arise for Mill´s treatment in connection with our ordinary notions concerning politeness and social avoidance. Though the problem of avoidance has been addressed by Dan Threet and John Dilulio, among others, I believe that my approach to the problems created by Mill`s take on politeness is entirely original with me. Considering the foregoing, I propose adding two supplementary clauses to the Harm Principle. I conclude by presenting a modern statement of said principle.

Publication Details

Journal
SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
Published
2024-12-01
Primary Topic
Philosophical Ethics and Theory
Type
article
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article

On two ways to expand on the harm principle

SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
Philosophical Ethics and Theory
article

On two ways to expand on the harm principle

article en

Abstract

In this article I survey the historical antecedents of what has been commonly referred to as John Stuart Mill´s Harm Principle and some of the ways in which the principle has been discussed in the work of recent analytic philosophers. Subsequently, in the article`s substantive core, I focus entirely on what Mill refers to as the “moral coercion of public opinion”. Here I address matters which I take to underexplored in the literature, namely some difficulties that arise for Mill´s treatment in connection with our ordinary notions concerning politeness and social avoidance. Though the problem of avoidance has been addressed by Dan Threet and John Dilulio, among others, I believe that my approach to the problems created by Mill`s take on politeness is entirely original with me. Considering the foregoing, I propose adding two supplementary clauses to the Harm Principle. I conclude by presenting a modern statement of said principle.

SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología
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Philosophical Ethics and Theory
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