John Stuart Mill- Individualism

John Stuart Mill in his philosophy defends the sovereignty of the individual against the notion of the majority save for when there is harm. He is a proponent of individualism. His views were expressed majorly on the interference of the interests of the individuals by various government institutions. According to Mill, humans are individuals who are capable, rational and able to independently act as agents and to decide what is bad and good for their lives. His principles are closely related to the standpoint of the liberal individualists as he believes in the ability of individuals. As Smith (1998) indicates, Mill’s wish was to have individualism accepted and be widely believed in hence his option for the removal of arguments that were metaphysical.

How John Mill develops and defends his position

Mill develops his position on the psychological concepts that are attributed to pleasure and pain. Individualism was placed on the realm of falsification or empirical verification following the basis of pleasure and pain. Mill believed on the conception of people’s actions being motivated by ethical hedonism and he was opposed to social contracts as he believed that social contract was not effective in solving anything that it was created for. In defending his individualism philosophy, he emphasized the fact that unless harm is done, there cannot be interference in the lives of others hence there was no usefulness in the social contract. His individualism concepts were grinded in psychology rather than metaphysics, contractual foundations or theology. His individualism beliefs are strongly linked to liberalism as he argues that the individuals are the sole arbiters to actions of their own. This if further strengthened by his stand that individual’s liberties need to be limited and not to turn into a nuisance to the other people around him.

Albert Camus philosophy

On the other hand, Albert Camus’ philosophy is strongly grounded on the perspective of communitarians in which there is a clear distinction of that which can harm others and that which can harm an individual. In his views, Camus is of the opinion that there exists no way through which we can demarcate where an individual’s good ends and where the good of other people begin and is vastly opposed to the views of the liberal individualists like Mill.

How Albert Camus develops and defends his position

Camus’ communitarian philosophy is based on the ideology that the connection between an individual and the community is vital. He develops his case through his assertions that the community ought to be like a family unit, cohesive on a wider sense of shared history, geographical location and personal interaction. He has his arguments based on epistemology and metaphysical issues and is widely opposed to classical liberalism that Mill propones that the community has its origin and base on the individuals’ acts. Camus belongs to the school of thought that beliefs and values are only existence in a public space. Camus defends this position of communitarian beliefs strongly on grounds that the individual is greatly shaped by the community and that it is the whole community as a family that matters more. An individual operates better if he is connects to the society and is better placed when he confirms to the norms of the society. (Orme, 2007)

The stronger position

            John Stuart Mill’s idealism is much stronger that the communitarian Mill. His argument on the sovereignty of an individual is weighty as he even asserts that that sovereignty is important and fundamental but insists on it not causing harm. In his arguments, Mill seems to look at both sides and effects of his beliefs and what he stands for. This is not the case with Camus. His strongest viewpoint which I think elevates him above Camus is his belief in the abilities of individuals.

Work cited

Orme, M. The Development of Albert Camus's Concern for Social and Political Justice: "justice Pour Un Juste". New Jersey: Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 2007. Print. 

Smith, W. John Stuart Mill's Social and Political Thought: Critical Assessments. New York: Routledge, 1998. Print.