![]() ![]() It is Mill’s belief that only through the liberty of thought and discussion that error can be overthrown, the truth can be reached and progress can be achieved (Hampsher-Monk, 1992: 370). Mill maintains that the individual has absolute right over his independence and that freedom to express this independence must be protected. Mill’s Liberty Principle and the main thread of his argument is concerned with protecting the individual from the intrusion of society. Mill’s definition of liberty is complex as he approaches it from many different angles throughout the text. ![]() Mill’s positioning of liberty and progress on a historical timeline allows for direct comparison with Marx’s conceptions of liberty and progress, and it is through this comparison that it becomes apparent that Mill’s belief in man as a progressive being has lead him into an ideological trap. Close analysis of the text highlights key aspects of Mill’s argument in which liberty and progress combine to usher humanity forwards through history. ![]() ![]() It is the assertion of this essay that Mill’s conception of liberty and his application of it as an indefeasible driver of progress, both human and historical, creates an un-resolvable problem for Mill which has negative implications for his overall argument and for liberal ideology in general.īy focusing predominantly on Mill’s treatment of China in Chapter III of On Liberty this essay sets out to re-examine the phenomenon of progress as formulated by Mill. What is the Role of Progress in Mill’s Argument in ‘On Liberty’? ![]()
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