Why Does Mill Favour Representative Government?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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According to Mill, representative government is also

the most effective way to organize the capacities of the citizens for the common good

. He envisions the best and wisest rising to the top of government as the people choose their betters to represent them.

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What did John Stuart Mill believe about government?

Mill believed that “the struggle between Liberty and Authority is the most conspicuous feature in the portions of history.” For him, liberty in antiquity was a “contest… between subjects, or some classes of subjects, and the government.” Mill defined social liberty as protection from “the tyranny of political rulers”.

What was an advantage of representative government?

Representative democracy gives people the advantages of democracy –

having a say in the way they are governed, and choosing the people who govern them

– without the onus of needing to study each law or policy initiative themselves.

What is the main purpose of a representative government?

Representative governments are the cornerstone of democratic political systems because

they allow citizens to decide who will speak and act on their behalf in the larger government

.

How does mill support his theory of utility?

Mill argues that

utilitarianism coincides with “natural” sentiments that originate from humans’ social nature

. … Mill argues that happiness is the sole basis of morality, and that people never desire anything but happiness.

What type of government does MILL want?

development of democracy

…Stuart Mill, concluded in his Considerations on Representative Government (1861) that “the ideal type of a perfect government” would be

both democratic and representative

.

What is John Stuart Mill best known for?

John Stuart Mill’s most important works include

Principles of Political Economy

(1848), On Liberty (1859), Utilitarianism (1861), and The Subjection of Women (1869).

What are the pros of a representative democracy?

  • It is an Efficient Form of Government. …
  • Easy Decision Making. …
  • Gives People the ability to Elect their Representatives.
  • Equal Citizen Representation. …
  • Summarize the Government’s Problem-Solving Platforms. …
  • Encourages the People’s Participations. …
  • Quick Allocation of Resources.

Why is representative democracy a good form of government?

(i) It is

a more accountable form of government as it has to respond to the needs of the people

. (ii) Democracy improves the quality of decision- making as it is based on consultation and discussion. (iii) Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts as differences are bound to occur.

What are the pros of an oligarchy?

  • It consolidates power with those who have expertise. …
  • It reduces societal pressures. …
  • It encourages creative endeavors. …
  • It encourages a conservative approach. …
  • It still allows anyone to join. …
  • It encourages income inequality. …
  • It inhibits growth over time. …
  • It can disrupt the economy.

How does Mill believe that someone comes to value money for its own sake?

Strictly speaking, Mill would say, even misers don’t desire money for its own sake. What they desire for its own sake is

the pleasure they get from the knowledge that they have money

. It’s this pleasure that is part of their happiness, not the money itself.

Which theory of the good did Mill and Bentham embrace?

Bentham and Mill were both important theorists and social reformers. Their theory has had a major impact both on philosophical work in moral theory and on approaches to economic, political, and social policy. Although utilitarianism has always had many critics, there are many 21

st

century thinkers that

support it

.

Why was representative government so important in the colonies?

The House of Burgesses made laws for the colony with approval of the Royal Governor from England. … Self- government in the colonies was important

because colonists often had to solve their own problems

. Many General Assemblies or other forms of representative government sprang up throughout the colonies.

Does Mill support utilitarianism?

The ethical theory of John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) is most extensively articulated in his classical text Utilitarianism (1861). Its goal is

to justify the utilitarian principle as the foundation of morals

. This principle says actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote overall human happiness.

How does Mill define sovereignty?

Mill’s great principle was that “

over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign

” (1859) … That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection.

Who came up with the idea of a representative government?

In America, the acceptance of representative government as a legitimate democratic form has long-standing roots. The argument can be traced back to

the English philosopher John Locke

(1632–1704), whose Second Treatise of Government (1690) was widely read by the founders.

Who is related to on representative government ‘?

Representative Democracy in the U.S.

At the national government level, the people elect

the president

and the officials who represent them in the two chambers of Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

How did John Stuart Mill impact the world?

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) profoundly influenced the shape of

nineteenth century British thought and political discourse

. His substantial corpus of works includes texts in logic, epistemology, economics, social and political philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, religion, and current affairs.

What does Mill think is the most important reason for individuality?

Mill believes that individuality is

essential to individual well being or happiness

. Those who are hammered into conformity cannot reach their full potential intellectually or creatively. What, according to Mill, is the great benefit of cultivating our individuality?

How does Mill define freedom?

Freedom is defined as

liberty of conscience, thought, feeling and opinion

, as “liberty of tastes and pursuits … doing as we like … without impediment from our fellow creatures, so long as what we do does not harm them.”

What is representative democracy why do we need it?

Representative democracy is necessary

because the framing of laws and rules which are to be followed by an entire country is a tedious process

. It demands the knowledge of well-educated as well as experienced faculties. If a common man is made to involve in such a process, it may create a problem.

What are the features of representative government?

  • universal participation. …
  • political equality (influence) …
  • majority rule. …
  • political competition and choice. …
  • rule of law. …
  • transparency in government. …
  • political accountability. …
  • civil liberties/equality of opportunities.

Why is representative democracy a good form of government class 6?

It

allows participation of the people in the governance of the country

. People elect their representatives who in turn make laws for them. It gives opportunity to people to peacefully and constitutionally change the government by means of elections.

What do you think are the advantages of a representative democracy over a direct democracy?

Advantages of representative democracy, especially as opposed to direct democracy, include that:

the people cannot be expected to have the time or interest to make important and regular decisions

.

representatives can educate the public on political issues

.

Why is representative democracy the most common form of government in modern times?

Discuss its significance in the contemporary world. Answer: The most common form of democracy in present time is that of a representative democracy. … Because

modern democracies involve such a large number of people that it is physically impossible for them to sit together and take a collective decision

.

How are leaders chosen in a oligarchy?

Most classic oligarchies have resulted when

governing elites were recruited exclusively from a ruling caste

—a hereditary social grouping that is set apart from the rest of society by religion, kinship, economic status, prestige, or even language.

How did representative institutions function in the colonies?


Charters of royal colonies provided for direct rule by the king

. A colonial legislature was elected by property holding males. … The colonies along the eastern coast of North America were formed under different types of charter, but most developed representative democratic governments to rule their territories.

What is a representative government quizlet?

Representative government is

the idea that government should serve the will of the people

. In most cases, it also means that the people have a say in government decisions. You just studied 106 terms!

How does Mill think his assertion that happiness alone is desirable in itself can be proven?

How does Mill think his assertion that happiness alone is desirable in itself can be proven? According to Mill,

pleasure is the only thing desirable for itself and not as a means to some other

end. … Mill argues that we are incapable of choosing a good we know to be less valuable than some alternative.

What are the pros and cons of Republic?

  • Introduction.
  • Pros of Republic. An efficient form of Government. Simple Decision Making. Citizen Representation on an Equal Footing. Encourages the Participation of the General Public. Quick Utilization of Resources. …
  • Cons of Republic. Trust that has been Misplaced. Deceptive Motives. Consume Huge Budget.

What do you mean by pros?

Pro is a Latin root word meaning for. If you make a list of pros and cons, you are listing the reasons for doing something and the reasons not to, respectively. Pro is also the shortened form of the word “

professional

,” often referring to professional sports.

Why does Mill think that individuality is intrinsic to happiness?

Mill asserted that

happiness was becoming whatever the individual wanted to be

. This required individuals to develop their own minds, feelings, and imagination to become independent, thinking persons. Mill called this “individuality.”

How does Mill argue for his principle of liberty?

Mill’s liberty principle is the idea that people should be free to do whatever they want, without any intervention from state or individuals, unless their actions harm somebody other than themselves. He argued that

if each person was free to make his or her own choices it would maximise happiness in society

.

How does Mill’s utilitarianism differ with that of Bentham’s which do you think is better?

What are the main differences between Bentham and Mill’s utilitarianism and which theory is better? Both thought that

the moral value of an act was determined by the pleasure it produced

. Bentham considered only quantity of pleasure, but Mill considered both quantity and quality of pleasure.

What are the two components of a satisfied life according to Mill?

The main constituents of a satisfied life appear to be two, either of which by itself is often found sufficient for the purpose:

tranquillity, and excitement

.

What is the aim of utilitarianism?

What Is Utilitarianism? Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and oppose actions that cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian philosophy would aim for

the betterment of society as a whole

.

What is Mill’s proof of the truth of utilitarianism?

(4) On Mill’s “proof” of the greatest happiness principle: • The steps in Mill’s proof: (i)

Utilitarianism is true iff happiness is the one and only thing desirable for its own sake (and not for the sake of something else)

. (ii) The only proof of desirability is desire.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.