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J. S. Mill and Political Violence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2009

Geraint Williams
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Extract

The most common view of Mill sees him as the classic liberal and one key element in this liberalism is said to be that his thought ‘rests on the belief that the use of reason can settle fundamental social conflicts’. He is seen by a leading authority as ‘the rationalist, confident that social change could be effected by the art of persuasion and by the simple fact that men would learn from bitter experiences’. To point out that at various times in his life Mill supported the use of violence in political life is insufficient in itself to challenge this basic view. However, if it can be shown that Mill's support for political violence adds up to a coherent justificatory theory then Mill's standing as the model liberal upholder of reason might need to be revised. Or at least the commonly assumed opposition between reason and violence will need to be re-examined. Are there circumstances in which the use of violence rather than persuasion is the rational course? In looking at Mill's response to events in France, America, Ireland, and Canada as well as his attitude to British politics it is clear that there are numerous examples of his support for the use of violence: ‘I do not scruple to say that I have sympathised more or less ardently with most of the rebellions, successful and unsuccessful, which have taken place in my time’. Our present concern is to see whether he developed any general principles whereby such violence could be shown to be legitimate.

Type
Research Article
Information
Utilitas , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , May 1989 , pp. 102 - 111
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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References

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44 Mill's formulation is reminiscent of Aquinas's justification of tyrannicide which specifies three conditions: the violation of natural law; no consequent deterioration in the situation; an actual improvement resulting from the killing. As with Mill, such violence calls for both moral and political judgement.