...that in trying to raise a barrier of moral conviction against antilibertarian tendencies of his age, "I forego any advantage which could be derived to...abstract right, as a thing independent of utility" (p. 224). One important barrier that he might want to raise is a socially defined system of rights,...

...formal commitment to utilitarianism, and wish to "forego any advantage that could be derived by [his] argument from the idea of abstract right as a thing independent of utility." He states that he regards "utility as the ultimate appeal on all ethical questions, but it must be...

...but Mill assures the reader early in On Liberty that the principle of utility has not been forgotten: It is proper to state that I forego any advantage...utility as the ultimate appeal on all ethical questions. (L 1.11) The liberty principle, then, cannot ground any kind of liberalism in Mill's thought which...

...may be considered as in its nonage." He then disclaims any advantage which could be derived to his "argument from the idea of abstract right as a thing independent of utility." He adds: "I regard utility as the ultimate appeal on all ethical questions; but it must be utility...

...scientific opinions even if publishing them will have none of these beneficial results. His comment is 'It is proper to state that I forego any advantage...abstract right as a thing independent of utility'. It might be supposed that he is admitting there is such an advantage. But he goes on 'I regard utility...

...principles of liberty, Mill tells us, he has no intention of appealing to any notion of absolute rights: "It is proper to state, that I forego any advantage...abstract right, as a thing independent of utility" (On Liberty, ed. Acton, p. 74). The disavowal is a deep obeisance to Bentham's scorn for the very idea...

...philosophy. A further point is worthy of note in connexion with this criticism. In Liberty, Mill declares that "I forego any advantage which could be derived...abstract right, as a thing independent of utility." 7 This declaration has often been taken to mean 8 that Mill is refusing in advance to regard any of...

...declares that they will appeal only to utilitarian considerations: "It is proper to state that I forgo any advantage which could be derived to my argument...abstract right, as a thing independent of utility." Those who uphold this common view are in no doubt that the enterprise to which Mill commits himself...

...Consistent with this reading, Mill does say of his argument for the Principle of Liberty, "I forgo any advantage which could be derived to my argument...abstract right as a thing independent of utility" (On Liberty [Indianapolis: Hackett, 1978], p. 10). Still, "it must be utility in the largest sense,...

...championed by classical liberalism. As we have seen, in On Liberty John Stuart Mill explicitly relinquishes "any advantage which could be derived to my argument from the idea of abstract liberty," and bases his case for liberty on the grounds that liberty is conducive to happiness.12 In...